Austin News

Governor Greg Abbott, the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), and the Texas National Guard are continuing their collaborative efforts with the Trump Administration to secure the border. This initiative aims to curb the smuggling of drugs, weapons, and people into Texas and to combat transnational criminal activity at non-port locations.

Since Operation Lone Star's inception, over 531,400 illegal immigrants have been apprehended and more than 50,900 criminal arrests made, including over 43,600 felony charges. In addressing the fentanyl crisis, Texas law enforcement has seized over 625 million lethal doses of fentanyl during this mission.

Texas reports a reduction in illegal crossings by over 90%, resulting in fewer migrants needing transportation to sanctuary cities. Since initiating its transportation program, Texas has moved:

- Over 12,500 migrants to Washington D.C.

- Over 45,900 migrants to New York City

- Over 36,900 migrants to Chicago

- Over 3,400 migrants to Philadelphia

- Over 19,200 migrants to Denver

- Over 1,500 migrants to Los Angeles

Operation Lone Star continues its efforts against what it perceives as ineffective policies from the Biden Administration. "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 open border policies," according to officials.

Recent developments include Governor Abbott's announcement about installing more buoys in the Rio Grande River as part of deterrent measures against illegal crossings. Despite opposition from the Biden Administration regarding these barriers' removal, they remain operational.

Governor Abbott also emphasized on social media that "Texas’ historic border security mission serves as the blueprint for the Trump Administration's successful border actions."

In Webb County last week, a DPS trooper involved in Operation Lone Star stopped a truck tractor for a traffic violation leading to multiple arrests after several individuals fled. The driver was identified as Junior Adalid Montoya-Alvarez from Honduras and was wanted for sexual assault.

In Hidalgo and El Paso counties earlier this month, DPS arrested two fugitives: Armando Alonso-Cortez from Mexico and Carlos Daniel Espinoza-Arguello from Venezuela. Both were wanted for serious offenses including sexual assault of a child.

A significant narcotics seizure occurred this week when DPS teams arrested three Mexican nationals smuggling 187 pounds of narcotics across the Rio Grande River in Cameron County.

Last Friday saw U.S. Border Patrol Chief Mike Banks deputize over 300 Texas National Guard soldiers to assist with federal immigration law enforcement at high traffic areas along the southern border. These soldiers now possess limited authority for making immigration arrests.

The Texas National Guard is employing advanced technology such as drones and camera systems which recently assisted in apprehending illegal immigrants near Mount Christo Rey and thwarting crossing attempts near Fronton Island by using unmanned aerial systems (sUAS).