2025 RGV Legislative Tour, Day Three: Border Security

MCALLEN, Texas – The Texas General Land Office has yet to hear from the Trump administration about the state agency’s offer to lease a 1,400-acre ranch in Starr County to the federal government for immigrant deportation facilities.

Deputy Land Commissioner Jennifer Jones spoke about the ranch during the Rio Grande Valley Partnership’s “2025 RGV Legislative Tour.” She spoke at an event at the Radisson Hotel McAllen Airport on Day Three of the tour.

Before giving an update to the state lawmakers in the audience, Jones played a video featuring Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham. In the video, Buckingham explained why the GLO had purchased the ranch and why she was offering it to President Trump. 

Once the video had finished, Jones said:

“That (video) pretty much said it all, especially about the property that we’re about to go out and visit. But I was asked to give you a few facts, and some of those are going to be a repeat of those (mentioned by Buckingham in the video), but a little more information on kind of updating you on where we are with the property. 

“First we acquired the property in October 2024. We were first alerted to the property by the Texas Facilities Commission; that it was a hot spot for criminal activity and illegal crossings, including human trafficking and smuggling of drugs and cash and guns. And so we worked to purchase the property for the State of Texas so that we could secure our southern border in this area. 

“Now, the General Land Office purchased property to generate revenue for the Permanent School Fund and the school children of Texas. So, it’s not just a purchase for securing the border, but also there is a farm on the ranch that we leased out and that farm produces things like corn, sorghum, soya beans, onions and sunflowers, and so you will see some of that today as well. 

“There are also some oil and gas operations on the property, but we do not own the mineral rights to those. Those are not in our purview, other than they’ve been there since the property was purchased by us. 

“And as the Commissioner said, less than 24 hours after purchasing the property, we entered into a memorandum of agreement with the Facilities Commission so that they can begin the construction of the border wall, which you will see today. They have completed about one and a half miles of the border paneling, and so that has been completed. There’s still some ongoing work to install security cameras, lighting and gates so that the property can be patrolled. 

“And then, also, which I think you probably heard about, in November, the Commissioner sent a letter to the Trump administration offering to lease the property to the federal government, if needed for securing the border and adding to the security of this area. And that included potentially building deportation facilities and staging areas if needed. 

“The update on that is that we have not had an official response from the Trump administration at this time, but the GLO stands ready if we hear back from them, or however we can help secure the border and protect Texas families on this property.”

Those in the audience then had an opportunity to tour the ranch with GLO staff.

Editor’s Note: Here is a video recording of Texas Deputy Land Commissioner Jennifer Jones’ remarks at the RGV Partnership event:

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