Why It Matters
A dispute over who controls state-owned land along the Texas-Mexico border has escalated into a formal legal confrontation between the Texas General Land Office and federal border construction contractors. The standoff in Presidio County highlights the ongoing friction between state property rights and the federal push to expand border infrastructure in the Rio Grande region.
What Happened
Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham sent a cease and desist letter Friday to U.S. Customs and Border Protection and Montana-based Barnard Construction, accusing the federal contractor of illegally entering and clearing state-owned land in Presidio County along the U.S.-Mexico border.
According to Buckingham’s letter, Barnard used heavy construction equipment to grade the terrain and strip vegetation from land managed by the General Land Office — entering three separate sections without authorization. The affected property is part of a 10,000-acre lease held by Trans Pecos Ice LLC for hunting, recreation, and grazing purposes, all under GLO management.
“This is not about border security — it’s about the sovereignty of the state of Texas,” Buckingham said in the letter. “It is absolutely unacceptable for any federal contractor to enter and deface Texas state lands.”
The GLO is demanding that CBP, Barnard, and Trans Pecos return the affected sections to their original condition and submit a formal reclamation plan. As of Friday, none of the three parties had responded to the office.
CBP issued a brief statement Friday evening acknowledging awareness of the situation, while distancing the agency from direct responsibility. “CBP values its partnership with the TX GLO, and we are working to resolve this issue with the Contractor and the TX GLO to ensure this does not happen in the future,” a CBP spokesperson said, adding that contractors are responsible for verifying legal access before beginning work.
By the Numbers
10,000 — acres covered by the Trans Pecos Ice LLC grazing and recreation lease at the center of the dispute.
13 million — total acres of Texas land managed by the General Land Office.
3 — number of separate land sections Buckingham says Barnard entered without authorization.
Less than 2 weeks — the gap between a related federal lawsuit filed by the city of Presidio and Presidio County’s economic development organization and Buckingham’s cease and desist action.
Billions — the combined value of federal border wall contracts Barnard Construction has received from the federal government.
Zoom Out
The dispute emerges against a broader backdrop of tension between Texas and federal authorities over border infrastructure. Earlier this month, the city of Presidio and a county economic development group filed suit against the Trump administration over plans to install barriers and detection technology along the Rio Grande — a lawsuit that predates but directly relates to the land clearing now at issue.
Barnard Construction, the Montana firm named in Buckingham’s letter, has been among the primary beneficiaries of federal border construction spending, collecting multiple contracts worth billions of dollars. The company’s principal has been identified as a donor to President Donald Trump.
Texas has seen repeated flashpoints between state and federal authorities over border policy and land use. The state has also been at the center of national debate over the limits of federal authority in border enforcement operations, with various officials and jurisdictions pushing back against Washington’s approach on different grounds.
What’s Next
The GLO’s cease and desist letter represents the opening formal move in what could become a protracted legal or administrative confrontation. Buckingham’s office is pressing for a reclamation plan from the involved parties and has signaled it will not consider the matter resolved until the land is restored.
With the city of Presidio and county officials already in federal court over related border construction plans, the legal landscape along this stretch of the Rio Grande is becoming increasingly complicated for federal contractors seeking to move forward with barrier installation. Further action — including potential litigation by the GLO — has not been ruled out if the parties do not respond.
Texas has faced a series of property and infrastructure challenges in recent weeks, underscoring the mounting pressures on state land management and emergency response systems across the state.