U.S. Rejects Mexico’s Water Request Amid Growing Agricultural Crisis

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The United States has denied a request from Mexico for additional water deliveries due to ongoing shortfalls under a 1944 treaty governing water allocation. Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced the decision on Thursday, marking the first time the U.S. has officially rejected such a request, which was intended for the border city of Tijuana.

The State Department stated that Mexico’s consistent failure to meet its water delivery obligations has severely impacted American farmers, particularly those in the Rio Grande Valley. In a statement on the social media platform X, the bureau responsible for Latin American affairs highlighted, “Mexico’s continued shortfalls in its water deliveries under the 1944 water-sharing treaty are decimating American agriculture—particularly farmers in the Rio Grande Valley.”

The 1944 treaty, which regulates the sharing of water from the Rio Grande and Colorado rivers, has faced increasing strain in recent years due to climate change, population growth, and agricultural demands in water-scarce regions. Mexico is required to deliver water in five-year cycles, with the current cycle set to conclude in October 2025.

U.S. farmers and lawmakers have expressed frustration over Mexico’s delay in water deliveries, particularly as Mexico combats ongoing drought conditions. A year prior, the last sugar mill in southern Texas closed, attributing its fate to insufficient water supplies from Mexico. U.S. agriculture experts are warning that without consistent water supplies, the future of cotton and citrus farming in Texas is uncertain.

After lengthy negotiations, both countries reached an agreement in November 2024 to improve delivery schedules. The bilateral understanding included provisions for Mexico to collaborate more closely with the United States to ensure timely water transfers, including earlier allocations within the five-year cycle. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum confirmed on Thursday that the issue was “being dealt with” through existing bilateral mechanisms, mentioning, “There’s been less water. That’s part of the problem.”n

Tijuana heavily relies on the Colorado River for approximately 90 percent of its water supply but has faced issues with aging infrastructure leading to significant waste. This river is also essential for major U.S. cities like Los Angeles and Las Vegas, which have experienced significant drops in water levels due to persistent drought and large-scale agricultural consumption, with nearly half the river’s water allocated to raising beef and dairy cattle.

U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announced $280 million in relief funding for farmers in the Rio Grande Valley, addressing the urgent needs of those affected by the water crisis. Senator Ted Cruz of Texas voiced his support for the decision, asserting that “Texas farmers are in crisis because of Mexico’s noncompliance,” and pledged to work with the administration to pressure Mexico into compliance.

This water dispute occurs against the backdrop of President Donald Trump‘s stringent immigration policies aimed at mitigating undocumented arrivals from Central America and Venezuela via Mexico. Trump’s administration has already deployed troops to the U.S.-Mexico border and considered implementing tariffs on Mexican goods, which are currently suspended until April 2.