Texas Land Commissioner Buckingham Reaffirms Commitment to Texas Sovereignty Amid SCOTUS Ruling Allowing Construction to Resume in Big Bend

AUSTIN, Texas – Following the United States Supreme Court's decision allowing construction to resume in Texas' Big Bend region while litigation continues, Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham reaffirmed her intense commitment to Texas Sovereignty while also raising serious concerns over federal construction efforts impacting Texas lands.

“Texas can secure our border and protect Big Bend,” said Commissioner Buckingham. “We can confront the cartels, stop drug and human trafficking, and support our law enforcement officers while respecting the rugged country that makes Texas extraordinary. Big Bend's rocky, remote terrain itself serves as a natural deterrent to illegal crossings, providing a layer of border security.

“Securing our border must also include respecting Texas' state lands and the communities we are working to protect. This administration owes Texans a strategy that accounts for the terrain, listens to local communities and protects this irreplaceable landscape for generations to come.

“As Land Commissioner, I lead an agency whose history dates back to the Republic of Texas, with a responsibility to protect the lands entrusted to the people of this great state. We can secure our border without harming the precious land we are entrusted to defend. Texas Sovereignty is non-negotiable and the Texas General Land office will vigorously defend it”

On July 31, 2026, Commissioner Buckingham issued cease-and-desist letters to U.S. Customs and Border Protection and its contractor, Barnard Construction, concerning excavation and construction activities on GLO-managed state lands in Presidio County that the agency maintained were unauthorized. The letters stated that Barnard had used heavy equipment to alter the terrain and remove vegetation without the GLO's express written consent.

Commissioner Buckingham demanded an immediate halt to those activities and restoration of the damaged lands to their original condition, including a reclamation plan subject to GLO approval. The agency also reserved its right to pursue all available legal remedies.

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Dr. Dawn Buckingham made history in 2022, winning a statewide election to become Texas' first female Land Commissioner. As Land Commissioner, Dr. Dawn Buckingham is committed to helping Texans after a disaster, supporting Texas energy, ensuring that every child in Texas receives a high-quality public education, serving Texas Veterans, and securing the border to keep our communities safe.

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