Texas Border Business
April 11, 2025- Several U.S. officials, notably Senator Ted Cruz and Representative Monica De La Cruz, have led the effort to hold Mexico accountable for its obligations under the 1944 Water Treaty. While both have diligently worked to draw attention to this vital issue, President Donald Trump’s recent involvement has amplified the pressure on Mexico with a powerful national and international spotlight.
Senator Ted Cruz has been a prominent advocate for enforcing the treaty’s terms. In May 2024, he introduced legislation to ensure Mexico’s compliance with the treaty, emphasizing the adverse effects of water shortages on Texas farmers. He has also supported measures to withhold certain U.S. funds from Mexico until it fulfills its water delivery commitments. His role has been instrumental in elevating the issue to the national stage and pushing for meaningful policy responses.
Representative Monica De La Cruz has also been a committed and consistent voice. In September 2023, she introduced House Resolution 683, urging Mexico to meet its water delivery obligations. She has also advocated for withholding U.S. funding to Mexico as leverage. Her early action and legislative strategy laid the groundwork for the larger movement to compel Mexico’s compliance.
Senator Cruz has been leading efforts to address Mexico’s non-compliance with the 1944 Water Treaty, which mandates that Mexico deliver 1.75 million acre-feet of water to the U.S. over a five-year cycle. As of early 2025, Mexico had delivered less than 30% of this obligation, citing severe drought conditions as the primary reason for the shortfall.
In July 2024, Senators Cruz and John Cornyn introduced an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) to ensure Mexico’s compliance with the treaty. The amendment requires the U.S. Secretary of State to report annually to Congress on Mexico’s water deliveries. If Mexico fails to meet its obligations, the amendment mandates the imposition of specific measures, including prohibiting USAID aid to Mexico’s private sector, prohibiting U.S. Trade and Development Agency funds for grantees in Mexico, and capping foreign assistance to Mexico at 85% of appropriated levels, exempting only anti-opioid and synthetic drug programs. Senator Cruz emphasized that Texas farmers and cities are suffering due to Mexico’s consistent failure to uphold its end of the treaty.
Senator Cruz has also been vocal in the Senate and on social media, describing the water shortage as a “man-made crisis.” He has supported aggressive measures to ensure Mexico fulfills its treaty obligations and has pledged to work with the administration to protect Texas farmers from further harm.
On August 27, 2024, another strong advocate for farmers in the Senate, U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX), took action in response to their concerns. He invited Senator John Boozman (R-AR), Ranking Member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, to the Rio Grande Valley for a roundtable discussion with local agriculture stakeholders. The meeting focused on critical issues facing the region’s farmers, including the pending Farm Bill and, more urgently, Mexico’s failure to deliver water as mandated by the 1944 Water Treaty. This ongoing water shortage has placed tremendous pressure on the agricultural sector, threatening the livelihoods of countless farmers in the region.
Read more on the Farm Bill at the end of this article.
The economic impact of the water shortage on South Texas has been catastrophic. The Rio Grande Valley Sugar Growers mill, operational since 1973, shut down due to inadequate water supply, resulting in an estimated $100 million economic impact. Farmers were forced to destroy sugarcane crops and significantly reduce the planting of other crops like cotton and corn. In response, the USDA announced a $280 million grant to support affected agricultural producers in the Rio Grande Valley. Senator Cruz hosted USDA Secretary Brook Rollins for a meeting with farmers from the RGV in Alamo, Texas, on March 19, 2025. The gathering at Schuster Farms provided a platform for affected farmers to share their experiences and to announce federal assistance.
Meanwhile, Representative Monica De La Cruz has taken a multi-pronged approach to the crisis. In January 2025, she introduced a resolution condemning Mexico’s non-compliance with the treaty, with strong bipartisan support. She followed up with bipartisan legislation in February 2024 requiring the U.S. Secretary of State to utilize all diplomatic tools to ensure Mexico’s adherence. In June 2024, she secured language in the FY25 State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Bill to withhold funding from Mexico until it meets its treaty obligations.
Rep. De La Cruz also actively engaged with U.S. officials, including the U.S. Trade Representative and Secretary of State, and supported Governor Greg Abbott’s directive to accept an offer of 120,000 acre-feet of water from Mexico, emphasizing that it must not count against treaty obligations. She worked alongside Secretary Rollins and Senator Cruz to address agricultural challenges and successfully advocated for the $280 million in emergency relief for South Texas farmers.
She has used her platform to raise awareness, posting on social media that “Mexico owes Texas 1.3 million acre-feet of water under the 1944 Water Treaty,” and commended the State Department’s move to deny Mexico’s non-treaty water request as an essential step in holding Mexico accountable.
PRESIDENT TRUMP DROPS THE HAMMER:
Then came the pivotal moment when President Donald Trump weighed in. On April 10, 2025, Trump posted on TRUTH Social: “Mexico OWES Texas 1.3 million acre-feet of water under the 1944 Water Treaty, but Mexico is unfortunately violating their Treaty obligation. This is very unfair and hurting South Texas Farmers very badly. Last year, the only sugar mill in Texas closed because Mexico had been stealing water from Texas farmers. Ted Cruz has been leading the fight to get South Texas the water it is owed, but Sleepy Joe refused to lift a finger to help the Farmers. THAT ENDS NOW! I will make sure Mexico doesn’t violate our Treaties and doesn’t hurt our Texas Farmers. Last month, I halted water shipments to Tijuana until Mexico complies with the 1944 Water Treaty. My Agriculture Secretary, Brooke Rollins, is standing up for Texas Farmers, and we will keep escalating consequences, including TARIFFS and, maybe even SANCTIONS until Mexico honors the Treaty and GIVES TEXAS THE WATER THEY ARE OWED!”
With that single post, Trump elevated the issue to a top-tier international concern, signaling a willingness to apply economic and diplomatic pressure at the highest level. While Senator Ted Cruz’s strategic leadership and legislative action have formed the backbone of the U.S. response, and Congresswoman De La Cruz’s relentless legislative and grassroots advocacy has built vital momentum, it is now Trump’s megaphone that could force Mexico to reckon with its obligations.
This is not just a political issue—it is a struggle for fairness, survival, and justice for the hardworking farmers of South Texas. Thanks to the combined efforts of Senator Cruz, Representative De La Cruz, and President Trump, the pressure on Mexico has never been greater. Updated Saturday, April 12, 2025
Update on the Farm Bill: As of April 12, 2025, the U.S. Congress has not passed a new Farm Bill. Instead, the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (commonly known as the 2018 Farm Bill) has been extended twice—most recently through the American Relief Act of 2025, which prolongs its provisions until September 30, 2025.
Efforts to pass a new Farm Bill have been hindered by partisan disagreements, particularly over proposed changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). House Republicans have advocated for stricter work requirements and significant budget cuts, while Democrats have opposed measures they view as harmful to low-income Americans. These disputes have stalled progress on new legislation.
Key programs such as crop insurance, conservation initiatives, and SNAP continue to operate under the extended 2018 Farm Bill. However, farmers and stakeholders face ongoing uncertainty regarding long-term agricultural policy and support without a new bill.
