In a bid to bolster border security, Texas Governor Greg Abbott has overseen the deployment of over 100 miles of razor wire along the state's border with Mexico. The move comes as part of Operation Lone Star, a collaborative effort between the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), and the Texas National Guard to counteract what the Governor describes as the federal government's failure to adequately secure the border, according to the Office of the Texas Governor.

The initiative has led to staggering numbers - with law enforcement claiming over 506,500 apprehensions of illegal immigrants, more than 41,200 criminal arrests, and upwards of 36,700 felony charges. Moreover, officials report the seizure of over 471 million lethal doses of fentanyl. In a show of force against illegal immigration and drug trafficking, Texas has funneled thousands of migrants to major U.S. cities, among them over 12,500 to Washington, D.C., and more than 41,000 to New York City.

During a recent appearance on America's Newsroom, Governor Abbott remarked, “I have to applaud our National Guard for stepping up and laying down that more than 100 miles of razor wire," adding, "It is an effective barrier that denies illegal entry," as per the Office of the Texas Governor.  The Governor also stressed Texas' lone role in proactively addressing the border crisis and enforcing immigration laws – a task that he believes the Biden Administration has largely neglected.

Further defending the state’s aggressive approach to border control, Abbott took an opportunity to criticize New York City Mayor Eric Adams during his visit to Fox Business. Abbott scorned Adams for his "empty gimmicks" instead of improving public safety, stating, "Anytime the Mayor opens his mouth, he needs to be talking about ways he can make his communities safer for his fellow New Yorkers, as opposed to these other gimmicks," as reported by the Office of the Texas Governor. 

Adding to the tactical arsenal, the Texas National Guard has launched airboats in the Rio Grande River, as described in the Office of the Texas Governor. These boats are essential for swift responses to illegal crossings during daylight and are seen as another key component of Texas' multifaceted response to what they perceive as a crisis wrought by lax federal policies.