By Emmy Powell
Communications Specialist

Once again, Mexico has missed its water delivery obligations to the United States, reigniting frustration across South Texas and prompting new legislation from lawmakers.

Under the 1944 Water Treaty, Mexico must deliver 1.75 million acre-feet of water to the U.S. every five years, about 350,000 acre-feet annually, from six tributaries feeding the Rio Grande. The U.S., in turn, delivers 1.5 million acre-feet each year from the Colorado River.

Despite the agreement, Mexico ended the latest cycle on Oct. 25 owing roughly 865,000 acre-feet of water, falling more than two years behind schedule.

“The situation is more than just disappointing. It’s infuriating,” Texas Farm Bureau (TFB) District 13 State Director Brian Jones said. “Another missed water delivery deadline by Mexico is another serious blow to Rio Grande Valley farmers and communities.”

This shortfall continues to increase economic hardship in the Rio Grande Valley, where agriculture depends almost entirely on irrigation.

“Farmers in the Rio Grande Valley have done about as much as they can to hang on until Mexico delivers the water it owes, including reducing the number of acres planted and switching to dryland crops that require less water,” Jones said.

He noted the number of acres being farmed in the Valley is down 45%.

“Every acre of citrus and vegetables produced in the (Lower Rio Grande Valley) depends on irrigation water,” said Dale Murden, citrus grower and president of Texas Citrus Mutual. “We’ve seen what can happen to industries here without it. When deliveries fall short, our economy suffers—from lost crops to jobs and community stability.”

The water shortage has already shuttered major industries, including the state’s only sugar mill, which closed last year after 51 years in operation. Local leaders warn that more closures could follow if Mexico’s water deliveries continue to fall short.

In response, U.S. Sens. Ted Cruz and John Cornyn filed new legislation that would restrict U.S. water transfers to Mexico and authorize the president to curtail engagement with certain Mexican industries that benefit from U.S. water.

“Mexico has consistently failed to meet its obligations under the 1944 Water Treaty, cycle after cycle,” Cruz said in a statement. “The Mexican government exploits the structure of the treaty to defer and delay its deliveries in each individual year until it becomes impossible for it to meet its overall obligations, and it continues to fail to meet its obligation to deliver water to the United States under the 1944 Water Treaty. These failures are catastrophic for Texas farmers and ranchers, who rely on regular and complete deliveries by Mexico under the treaty and are on the front lines of this crisis, facing water shortages that threaten agriculture and livestock.”

The bill would also require Mexico to make minimum annual deliveries instead of backloading its obligations at the end of each five-year cycle.

U.S. Rep. Monica De La Cruz sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins, requesting that the U.S. Department of Agriculture continue to hold the Mexican government accountable for their obligated water deliveries under the treaty.

“Their previous position had been to declare droughts so as to give them an additional five years to fulfill their existing water debt,” she said. “This gravely affects South Texans and ultimately the entire country. If our farmers do not get consistent water deliveries over the next six months, we are at risk of losing our citrus industry, after recently having lost our only sugar mill in Texas,”

Spring planting is quickly approaching and the uncertainty surrounding water leaves farmers in a vulnerable spot.

“The 2026 spring planting season here begins in February, and agriculture has only 50% of the water it needs,” Jones said. “Something must be done and done now, or we risk losing an entire industry.”