Texas Governor Greg Abbott is doubling down on securing the Lone Star State's border. Citing a battle against drug smuggling and illegal immigration, Abbott alongside the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) and the Texas National Guard, has maintained a steadfast presence on the state's southern border. Since the initiation of Operation Lone Star, a coordinated multi-agency endeavor, authorities have reported sweeping numbers: over 512,300 apprehensions of illegal immigrants and north of 43,400 criminal arrests, including over 38,200 felony charges.
The operation has been pivotal in intercepting a substantial amount of narcotics. Texas law enforcement proudly boasts the seizure of over 487 million lethal doses of fentanyl – an amount they claim could terminate the lives of every resident in not just the United States, but also Mexico. The looming fentanyl crisis is at the forefront of Texas' agenda, as they work to impede the flow of the deadly substance with such actions.
In a press release issued on May 31st, Abbott's office lauded the state's efforts as pivotal considering what they describe as the Biden Administration's "refusal to secure the border." The assertion that the federal government has neglected its duty to control unlawful crossings has amplified the state's commitment to a distinctly Texan policy initiative. The information, which was disseminated through the Governor's official website, indicates that the state has also taken to transporting thousands of migrants to cities around the country, including Washington, D.C., New York City, Chicago, Philadelphia, Denver, and Los Angeles.
Numbers speak to the scale of this operation, with the state of Texas shuttling over 12,500 migrants to Washington, D.C. and more than 45,000 migrants to New York City alone. The figures outlined in the release by Governor Abbott's office, which can be accessed through their official website, emphasize the persistent flow and subsequent relocation of migrants across the United States, ranging from Chicago’s 36,500 to Los Angeles' 1,500 since just last month. Echoing the sentiments relaid by state officials, these efforts are seen as essential in safeguarding not only Texas but also various communities nationwide.
