Austin News

Governor Greg Abbott, the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), and the Texas National Guard continue to collaborate in securing the border, aiming to halt the smuggling of drugs, weapons, and people into Texas. They also seek to prevent, detect, and interdict transnational criminal activity between ports of entry.

Since the launch of Operation Lone Star, this multi-agency effort has resulted in over 514,900 illegal immigrant apprehensions and more than 44,600 criminal arrests, with over 38,900 felony charges. In addressing the fentanyl crisis, Texas law enforcement has seized over 504 million lethal doses of fentanyl during this border mission.

Texas has transported:

- Over 12,500 migrants to Washington, D.C. since April 2022

- Over 45,900 migrants to New York City since August 2022

- Over 36,900 migrants to Chicago since August 2022

- Over 3,400 migrants to Philadelphia since November 2022

- Over 19,200 migrants to Denver since May 2023

- Over 1,500 migrants to Los Angeles since June 2023

Operation Lone Star continues to address what Governor Abbott describes as "dangerous gaps created by the Biden Administration’s refusal to secure the border." According to Abbott: "Every individual who is apprehended or arrested and every ounce of drugs seized would have otherwise made their way into communities across Texas and the nation due to President Joe Biden’s open border policies."

Recent highlights from Operation Lone Star include:

Governor Abbott discussed President Biden’s response to the border crisis on Fox & Friends with Brian Kilmeade. He criticized the administration's handling of illegal immigrants with criminal records entering the country and linked it directly to violent incidents such as Jocelyn Nungaray's murder in Houston. "The murder of Jocelyn was a direct result of Biden’s open border policies," said Abbott.

Additionally, Governor Abbott shared updates on ongoing border wall construction in Maverick County via X (formerly Twitter) and highlighted drone deployment by the Texas National Guard near El Paso.

DPS troopers recently arrested an Oklahoma man for human smuggling and drug possession after stopping his vehicle in Maverick County. Troopers discovered three illegal immigrants from Honduras being smuggled along with crystal meth found under the driver's seat.

In another incident in Webb County, DPS troopers arrested a human smuggler from Mexico following a high-speed pursuit. The driver faced charges including smuggling persons and evading arrest.

DPS troopers also encountered three special interest illegal immigrants on private property in Maverick County. These individuals were on the FBI's Special Interest Group list and were handed over for further questioning.

In Hidalgo County, DPS troopers arrested Juan Casango after a high-speed chase. Casango had an outstanding warrant for unauthorized use of a vehicle among other charges.

The Texas National Guard continues constructing barriers such as "cheval de frise" in El Paso aimed at impeding criminal activity and deterring illegal crossings.