The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) recently reported the apprehension of large groups of illegal immigrants, some originating from nations tied to terrorism concerns. In an operation dubbed Lone Star, DPS officers encountered on Sept. 30 and Oct. 2, two separate groups trying to enter the U.S. illegally near Eagle Pass, Texas.
During the first incident, as detailed in a DPS press release, Troopers stumbled upon 230 people making an unauthorized crossing. Of those, 27 hailed from countries such as Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran, Egypt, and India – territories known for extremism and terrorist activities. Consequently, all 27 were handed over to the federal government for further scrutiny. “It is this type of activity, these attempted illegal crossings between the ports of entry by people coming from areas that are hot spots for terrorist activity that clearly highlight the concerns of Governor Abbott and the state of Texas,” DPS Director Steven McCraw said.
In addition to the group from 'special interest' countries, 41 migrants originating from countries including Brazil, Ecuador, and Colombia were charged with criminal trespass and detained at the Val Verde Processing Center. The second episode involved 135 individuals located four miles north of Eagle Pass, with family units and single adults among them, including those from Turkey and one from China.
Furthermore, on Sept. 21, the apprehension of Umar Farooq Ashraf, a South African national, brought some unease as he was flagged by the Terror Screening Center as potentially linked to a known or suspected terrorist. He currently remains in state custody. Since the inception of Operation Lone Star in early March 2021, there has been an excess of 521,780 illegal immigrant apprehensions and referrals and over 47,450 criminal arrests. DPS has laid out more than 41,070 felony charges, demonstrating the scale and persisting issue of illegal border crossing and its associated risks.
