Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham has ordered state land officials to search for cartel tunnels along the Mexican border, particularly in high-risk areas like Hudspeth County.
GLO field personnel will use drones and aerial surveillance during routine inspections to spot potential tunnel entrances on state-managed properties. The announcement follows recent tunnel discoveries by federal agents in San Diego and El Paso.
“Texas stands on the front lines of America’s fight for border security,” Buckingham said in a news release. “The cartels are constantly adapting, moving from the skies and waterways to underground networks of tunnels, and we will not cede an inch of land to these violent illegal criminals.”
The directive comes as federal authorities invest $100 million in new tunnel detection technology and President Trump designates Mexican cartels as terrorist organizations.
The Department of Homeland Security has also been expanding its detection systems in high-risk areas along the southwest border. Customs and Border Patrol began deploying the new technology on November 10.
Trump’s terrorist designation grants federal agencies broader authority to combat cartel operations. The classification reflects the escalating threat these criminal organizations pose to border communities.
“The safety and sovereignty of our state are non-negotiable, and the General Land Office will use every tool at our disposal to keep Texas safe,” Buckingham added. “Together with President Trump’s Administration, DHS, CBP, and Governor Abbott’s Operation Lone Star, Texas will continue to lead the fight against illegal crossings – above ground and below it.”
Since taking office, Buckingham has leveraged GLO resources for border security initiatives. In 2023, she declared Fronton Island in Starr County as state land, enabling law enforcement to clear the area and reduce criminal activity.
The GLO acquired 1,402 acres along the Rio Grande in October 2024 for the construction of a border wall. Within 24 hours, Buckingham authorized the Texas Facilities Commission to begin building.
She also offered the land to the Trump Administration for deportation facilities. Crews completed 1.5 miles of border wall paneling on the property in January 2025.
The GLO plans to coordinate with federal partners to identify vulnerable areas and strengthen security on state lands. The agency manages approximately 13 million acres across the state of Texas.