Overview
- Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham directed drones, aircraft and ground inspections on General Land Office tracts to spot tunnel entrances or excavation signs.
- The agency is working with U.S. Border Patrol and other federal partners to deploy new detection tools and address public-safety concerns tied to underground passages.
- Hudspeth County is an early focus after a campsite about 30 miles from the border was found and identified by officials as used by smuggling guides.
- CBP and DHS are deploying roughly $100 million in tunnel-detection technology through 2026, and contractors are being sought for work along the Texas border.
- Separate from the GLO effort, Laredo leaders plan to review proposed smart-wall features on Nov. 14 after being notified of new barriers and sensors for Webb County.