The bill would impose restrictions and measures against Mexico if it does not meet its average annualized obligation. It requires the secretary of State to report to Congress on Mexico’s status of meeting its treaty obligations. If the secretary finds that Mexico hasn’t met its obligations, the bill directs the president to deny all non-treaty requests from the Mexican government and limit or terminate engagement with Mexican authorities with the exception of drug interdiction, according to the bill language. 

“Mexico has consistently failed to meet its obligations under the 1944 Water Treaty, cycle after cycle. 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,” Cruz said. “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. Without stronger congressional pressure and oversight, Mexico will continue to fail to meet its obligations.” 

Mexico has historically released water storage from Lake Amistad to Mexican growers, not to Texas growers, and for years, the U.S. federal government hadn’t enforced the treaty. Last year, Mexican officials killed any agreements to release water to Texans, even running ads in Mexico City to protest compliance with the treaty, The Center Square reported. The treaty mandates Mexico to deliver 350,000 acre-feet of water per year over a five-year cycle, a total of 1.75 million acre-feet, to the U.S., which it has not done. 

The last five-year cycle ended in October. According to the International Boundary and Water Commission, as of Oct. 24, 2025, Mexico ended the cycle delivering approximately 885,000 acre-feet, less than 50% of its total obligation of 1.75 million acre-feet. 

This is after the Trump administration reached a deal with Mexican authorities in April requiring them to fulfill their end of the treaty or face economic sanctions, The Center Square reported.

Prior to that, an agreement was reached last fall between U.S. and Mexican authorities requiring Mexico to deliver water to the Rio Grande Valley in Texas. This was eight months after Texas sugar growers said they had no choice but to shut down the last remaining sugar operation in Texas because the federal government hadn’t held Mexico accountable for breaking the treaty, The Center Square reported.

Both Democratic and Republican lawmakers for years called on the Biden administration, and previous administrations, to force Mexico’s hands, the industry argues, to no avail.

The Rio Grande Valley is among the most fertile agricultural regions in the state and country. In order to grow a wide range of crops, farmers rely on water from the Colorado and Rio Grande rivers. The agricultural industry in the valley contributes roughly $1 billion annually to the economy and provides roughly 8,400 full-time jobs, The Center Square reported.

“Mexico’s deficit under the 1944 Water Treaty has never been greater. Barring action by Mexico, in October 2025, Texans will be facing a projected deficit of 1.3-million acre-feet of water,” Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said last year when demanding that Mexico comply with the treaty. 

Cruz, Cornyn, U.S. Reps. Henry Cuellar, D-Laredo, Monica De La Cruz, R-Edinburg, and others, sought to include funding stipulations in federal appropriation bills stating that the U.S. would withhold foreign aid to Mexico until it released the required amount of water. 

PAXTON SUES TEXAS COUNTY OVER TAXPAYER-FUNDED DEFENSE OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS FACING DEPORTATION

Mexico receives hundreds of millions of dollars in foreign aid from the U.S. Office of Foreign Assistance. 

Cruz and Cornyn also filed an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act to create a new framework to ensure Mexico complies with the treaty.

Earlier this year, Cruz, Cornyn and De La Cruz secured a $280 million block grant through the USDA to provide immediate economic relief to south Texas farmers.