Crews Clearing 'Sacred' Island in Middle of Rio Grande, Locals Say

Residents of Roma, Texas, express concerns over the destruction of an island in the Rio Grande that has cultural and environmental significance.

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

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Law enforcement officials have said an island in the middle of the Rio Grande near the border town of Roma, Texas, can be used to hide and smuggle migrants into the United States. In the past week, crews have begun clearing brush and trees from the island, known as 'Roma Island,' sparking outrage from local residents who view the island as a sacred and ecologically important site.

Why it matters

The clearing of Roma Island raises concerns about the preservation of cultural heritage and the impact on the local environment and wildlife. The island is considered sacred by the Carrizo Commecrudo Tribe of Texas, who have conducted ceremonies and rituals there for centuries. Additionally, the island is an important eco-tourism destination known for its bird and butterfly populations, which could be disrupted by the clearing efforts.

The details

Crews have cleared about one-third of the trees and brush on Roma Island in the past week, according to local residents. Law enforcement officials have said the island can be used to hide and smuggle migrants into the United States. The clearing of the island has sparked outrage from locals, including math teacher Juan Moreno, who says the destruction of the island is 'devastating.' Environmentalist Jim Chapman of the nonprofit group Friends of the Wildlife Corridor also expressed concerns about the impact on wildlife, stating that the newly installed concertina wire will be 'a totally impassable barrier' for animals.

  • The clearing of Roma Island began in the past week.
  • A couple of years ago, another river island near the town of Fronton, commonly known as Fronton Island, was stripped by the Texas Military Department under the direction of Texas Gov. Greg Abbott's Operation Lone Star.

The players

Juan Moreno

A 43-year-old math teacher from Roma, Texas, who is upset about the tearing down of the ancient Roma Island and the presence of soldiers patrolling the island with weapons.

Jim Chapman

An environmentalist and the founder of the nonprofit group Friends of the Wildlife Corridor, who is concerned about the impact of the clearing on wildlife and the environment.

Juan Mancias

The tribal leader of the Carrizo Commecrudo Tribe of Texas, who views the islands in the Rio Grande as sacred sites where the tribe has conducted ceremonies and rituals for centuries.

Greg Abbott

The governor of Texas, who directed the Texas Military Department to carry out Operation Lone Star, which has included the clearing of river islands near the border.

Texas Military Department

The state agency that has been responsible for the clearing of river islands near the border, including Roma Island and Fronton Island.

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What they’re saying

“Roma Texas is known for border birding and butterfly watching and so it's a little disheartening to see the destruction of the island like that. It's devastating the island.”

— Juan Moreno, Math teacher (Border Report)

“This river moves. It's alive. It's a living thing for us and the river didn't know any borders before.”

— Juan Mancias, Tribal leader, Carrizo Commecrudo Tribe of Texas (Border Report)

“It breaks my heart and it also makes me angry that my government is doing this because it's such a loss for so many reasons.”

— Jim Chapman, Environmentalist, Friends of the Wildlife Corridor (Border Report)

What’s next

The Texas Military Department and the Department of Homeland Security have not yet responded to requests for information on how many islands are being cleared and which agency is in charge of the operations.

The takeaway

The clearing of Roma Island highlights the ongoing tensions between border security efforts and the preservation of cultural and environmental resources along the Rio Grande. Local residents and environmental advocates are concerned about the long-term impacts of these actions on the region's unique ecosystem and the sacred sites of indigenous communities.