Texas expands: Three islands in the Rio Grande will be used in border security efforts

EAGLE PASS, Texas — The State of Texas is getting a little bit bigger. About 215 acres bigger, to be exact.

The Texas General Land Office declared in April that state troopers could clear out two islands in the Rio Grande, near Eagle Pass, for Operation Lone Star.

Then in September, Commissioner Dawn Buckingham added another. This one is in Fronton, located in Starr County.

It's part of the new Operation Flat Top, part of the state's larger border security effort.

"This is Texas land, it has been Texas land, but now that it's officially claimed, law enforcement can gain access to that property," Dr. Buckingham told News 4.

These islands were previously considered no man's land.

The News 4 I-Team analyzed how the state was able to take control of these areas—and how your tax dollars will be used to clear and maintain them.

Where are the islands?

The General Land Office says these islands have always technically been part of Texas, according to old maps.

One of the Eagle Pass islands is right outside Shelby Park, and the other is a few miles away near the floating barrier.

One is about half an acre, the other is closer to 45 acres.

Fronton Island is the largest of the islands claimed by the state, sitting at about 170 acres.

You can see in these photos just how close it is to Mexico.

Why utilize these islands?

"We want to take full control of that island so we can change how these cartels are operating in that area," Olivarez said.

DPS leaders say even in the initial clearing stages, it's been dangerous on Fronton Island.

"We've encountered armed gunmen, cartel members that have come across on Fronton, we've encountered ammunition..." said Lt. Chris Olivarez.

Days after they got permission to move in, DPS drones captured this cartel gun battle just across the river.

Days later, troopers saw it with their own eyes.

Armed cartel members were spotted close by after a barrage of gunshots.

"Those islands were primarily used for illegal border crossings," Olivarez said. "We see the influx of illegal immigrants coming across, they would use those pieces of land as a refuge."

Then in late October, DPS drones captured explosives being hurled back and forth as the Gulf Cartel and the Northeast Cartel battle for the territory.

Olivarez says he expects incidents like this to continue.

"Mexican law enforcement couldn't get there. American law enforcement couldn't get there... there was a reason why two of the most violent cartels in Mexico were fighting over its territory," Buckingham said.

Buckingham tells us the request for Texas to seize the islands had been in place for nearly a decade.

We asked why she made the move to authorize DPS to use them now.

"It's a major place to hide, and we're just getting rid of that," Buckingham explained. "Opening it up so that law enforcement can more effectively maintain our border."

Buckingham says once the border is secure, the state will re-evaluate what the islands are used for.

DPS has spent weeks clearing Fronton Island. Thick stalks of Carrizo cane (bamboo-like reed that can grow several feet tall) were chopped down, and spools of razor wire were planted in their place.

Here's what Fronton Island looked like before:

And here's a more recent flyover:

"Once it's completely cleared, we will we will man that area 24/7," Olivarez said.

But some border residents say it's already dangerous enough with the cartel activity. They worry the state's efforts may be seen as confrontation.

"This is our number one trading partner that we've always had a peaceful, steady relationship with," said Jesse Fuentes, an Eagle Pass resident who runs a kayaking company along the Rio Grande. 'There's got to be a better way, instead of confrontation."

But Lt. Olivarez says it's necessary for safety. And they're looking to see if any other islands can be declared for Texas too.

"That's what we're trying to do is also locate other pieces of land, in Eagle Pass, along the border, that we can try to help deny or try to prevent some of that activity is taking place right now," Olivarez said.

Olivarez says the state is also looking at criminal trespassing charges for people who try to use the islands to cross into the US illegally.

"It's declared as Texas land, so we can use that as a deterrent," Olivarez said.

What will the clearing and maintaining of these islands cost taxpayers?

"DPS and the Texas National Guard are involved in clearing the properties, but that expense is minimal when you look at increasing the safety and productivity of our border communities," Buckingham said.

What is the federal government saying about this?

Since the Rio Grande is an international waterway, we reached out to the International Boundary and Water Coalition, the entity in charge of making sure international treaties are followed.

A public affairs officer told us that the agency is still confirming ownership of these islands.

They're going through historical land records to verify that they are indeed Texas territory.

We're told they'll be able to answer more questions once that investigation is complete.

This USIBWC Base Map shows that Fronton Island is on the U.S. side of the boundary: