Governor Greg Abbott, the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), and the Texas National Guard continue to work together to secure the border, stop the smuggling of drugs, weapons, and people into Texas, and prevent, detect, and interdict transnational criminal behavior between entry points.
Since the launch of Operation Lone Star, the multi-agency effort has led to over 270,400 migrant arrests and over 16,700 criminal arrests, with over 14,000 felony charges reported. More than 5,600 weapons and more than $42.8 million in foreign currency were seized. In addition, security forces prevented more than 22,700 migrants from crossing the border.
Operation Lone Star continues to fill dangerous voids left by the Biden administration’s refusal to secure the border. Every individual apprehended or arrested and every ounce of drugs seized would otherwise have entered communities in Texas and across the country because of President Biden’s open border policies.
RECENT OPERATION LONE STAR HIGHLIGHTS:
Governor Abbott expands border security operations, including DPS response teams and vehicle checkpoints
Governor Greg Abbott on Wednesday announced the expansion of state border security operations by creating Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) response teams, establishing new inspection checkpoints targeting semi-trucks and deploying additional resources from the Texas Military Department to mitigate the President Biden’s growing border crisis. During a press conference at Eagle Pass, the governor explained how Operation Lone Star agency partners are adding more resources and implementing strategies to secure all land owned or controlled by states and local governments. along the border.
“Until President Biden decides to enforce the immigration laws passed by Congress, the State of Texas will continue to use every tool available to secure the border and keep Texans — and residents — safe. Americans,” Governor Abbott said.
Watch the press conference.
WATCH: Governor Abbott discusses President Biden’s inaction on border security after this week’s tragedy that left many dead
Governor Greg Abbott joined Fox News’ Jesse Watters this week to discuss how the Biden administration’s open border policies led to the deaths of more than 50 migrants in an abandoned tractor-trailer.
With President Biden’s elimination of the border security operations enacted by President Trump, the problem of human trafficking along the Texas-Mexico border has grown exponentially. The governor also noted that President Biden has not presented any plans to combat cartels responsible for human trafficking and criminal activity.
WATCH: Governor Abbott addresses increasingly dangerous border situation
This week, Governor Abbott spoke with Fox News’ Sean Hannity about the dangerous situation on the Texas-Mexico border in the absence of strong federal actions to mitigate illegal migrant smuggling and criminal activity. Following the deaths of more than 50 migrants smuggled in a tractor-trailer, the Biden administration has failed to confront the realities of the problem.
FOX NEWS: DPS Crime Lab in Houston analyzes deadly fentanyl spilling across border from Mexico
Fox News’ Alexis McAdams tours the DPS crime lab in Houston, where DPS medical examiners are processing fentanyl seized across Texas. Almost all street drugs analyzed by the laboratory are mixed with the synthetic opioid. Most of the Houston lab’s fentanyl arrives in pill form, but sometimes in pound form containing up to 500,000 lethal doses that could kill hundreds of thousands of people.
DPS commercial motor vehicle inspection at Pharr facility seized over 25 packages of cocaine
A commercial motor vehicle inspection at the DPS Border Inspection Safety Facility in Pharr resulted in the seizure of more than 25 packages of cocaine from a tractor-trailer from Mexico. The driver was arrested and charged with possession with intent to distribute. The total weight of the cocaine was nearly 60 pounds. with a market value of over $900,000.
WATCH: DPS Lt. Olivarez tells Fox News the Biden administration is giving Americans false information about the border crisis
DPS Lt. Chris Olivarez says the federal government has failed in its responsibility to secure the border, resulting in the deaths of more than 50 migrants in a single incident this week. DPS soldiers see an increase in human trafficking events in the border region and expect more tragic consequences from the Biden administration’s disregard for securing the border and curbing criminal activity.
The Texas National Guard establishes a blocking position on the Rio Grande with tactical vehicles and riverine assets
Last week, soldiers from the Texas National Guard established blockading positions on the Rio Grande using tactical vehicles and river assets. The areas surrounding the Hidalgo International Bridge are known for their high volumes of human trafficking and narcotics trafficking. The Tactical Response Unit’s primary mission is river operations, but teams regularly land on the Texas side of the river to interdict criminal activity.
WATCH: DPS Lt. Olivarez Holds Feds to Account Over Rising Human Trafficking Cases
DPS Lt. Chris Olivarez blames the growing number of human trafficking incidents on the failures of the Biden administration’s border policy. “Why would they cancel the border policies that worked? That’s the question that needs to be asked,” Lt. Olivarez told Fox News’ Sara Carter.
The Texas National Guard continues to interdict and apprehend illegal migrants in several border counties
The Texas National Guard has apprehended and referred more than 151,000 people attempting to enter Texas since March 2021. Illegal migrants trying to evade detection make up the highest number of encounters along the Texas-Mexico border with 92,000 additional surrenders.
As part of Operation Lone Star, soldiers continue to intercept and apprehend illegal migrants in several counties along the Texas border region.
VIDEO: DPS soldiers pursue driver trying to smuggle five illegal migrants into US
DPS troopers pursued a driver in Kinney County, who was later charged with evading arrest, human trafficking and unlawful carrying of a weapon. The driver was trying to smuggle five illegal migrants into the United States
Texas National Guard uses river assets to interdict criminal activity along the Rio Grande
The Texas National Guard employs more than 50 riverine assets along the Texas-Mexico border as part of Operation Lone Star to interdict criminal activity. The boats add capacity and flexibility to law enforcement assets along the Rio Grande and provide access to remote areas to maximize security operations.
