U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) on Friday praised President Donald Trump’s aggressive push to force Mexico to meet its long-overdue water obligations to South Texas, calling the effort a “turning point” after years of inaction under the Biden administration.
“South Texas farmers and ranchers have been snubbed by Mexico for years and denied the water they’re rightfully owed, but no more,” Cornyn said in a statement. “President Trump’s show of force and commitment is reclaiming what Mexico has essentially stolen from our agriculture community after four years of neglect under the previous administration.”
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Cornyn endorsed the use of “all diplomatic and economic options” to compel Mexico to comply with the 1944 Water Treaty, which governs water-sharing between the two countries. Under the treaty, Mexico is required to deliver an average of 350,000 acre-feet of water per year over a five-year cycle to support the Rio Grande’s water supply. However, Mexico has consistently delayed those deliveries until the end of each cycle—creating prolonged water shortages for farmers and ranchers in the region.
With the current cycle set to expire in October, Mexico has only delivered around 500,000 acre-feet—just a quarter of the volume it owes, according to International Boundary and Water Commission (IBWC) data.
Cornyn said he is working closely with President Trump and newly confirmed Secretaries of State and Agriculture, Marco Rubio and Brooke Rollins, to implement penalties against Mexico unless it fulfills its obligations.
“I will continue working with the President and Secretaries Rubio and Rollins on this effort to inflict maximum pain and force Mexico to make good on their end of the bargain,” Cornyn said. “President Trump and I will fight for what Texas farmers and ranchers need to put food on the table for millions of Americans.”
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Cornyn has long advocated for action on the water issue, leading efforts in Congress to secure emergency funding and to pressure Mexico through diplomatic channels. He previously partnered with Secretary Rollins to deliver over $280 million in federal relief to Rio Grande Valley producers affected by the shortage.
In recent years, Cornyn and Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) have sounded alarms over water-driven agricultural disruptions, including the closure of a key sugarcane mill in the Rio Grande Valley.
Both senators have supported resolutions and sent multiple letters urging stronger enforcement of the treaty, including a push to withhold foreign aid to Mexico until it balances its water delivery deficit.
The Trump administration has signaled a much firmer stance, with Secretary Rubio reportedly committed to linking future diplomatic and financial cooperation with Mexico to compliance on water deliveries.
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