Texas Governor Greg Abbott, alongside both the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) and the Texas National Guard, announced continuing efforts to fortify the state's southern border. Their combined mission, dubbed Operation Lone Star, has reportedly resulted in over half a million apprehensions and thousands of criminal arrests. The operation also boasted the seizure of significant quantities of fentanyl, according to a recent press release by the Office of the Texas Governor.
Recent updates to the mission further outlined a decrease in illegal crossings into Texas—stated to be over 86 percent—claiming the efforts have successfully begun to slow the transfer of migrants to various sanctuary cities across the nation. Despite these claims, critics have questioned the methods and metrics used by Texas officials to quantify success under Operation Lone Star. The transportations have included over 12,500 migrants to Washington, D.C., over 45,900 to New York City, and thousands more to other major cities.
In a statement, Governor Abbott spoke at the South Texas Property Rights Association's annual meeting, highlighting actions against the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua. "For nearly two decades, the South Texas Property Rights Association has fought to ensure that our border with Mexico is safe and secure," Abbott told the Office of the Texas Governor. "Our latest battle has been against Tren de Aragua. Which is why last month, I ordered the Texas Department of Public Safety to launch a statewide operation directly targeting Tren de Aragua to deter and disrupt their criminal operations." This effort included the designation of the group as a foreign terrorist organization, the establishment of a TdA Strike Team, and the recent arrest of a TdA gang member in Houston.
The extension of physical barriers has also been a focal point, with Twitter updates from Abbott showing progress on the border wall in Maverick County. The push to advance physical barricades continues, evident from a report describing Texas National Guard soldiers installing shipping containers across Shelby Park to deter illegal crossings. In an effort to visually demonstrate their presence, DPS troopers conducted a show of force along the Texas-Mexico border, signifying Texas' readiness to deter and repel illegal immigration and protect Texans' property and safety.
Moreover, DPS made several apprehensions this week, including the capture of a human smuggler and eight illegal immigrants in Hidalgo County, followed by the arrest of another smuggler in Webb County. These individuals were referred to the Border Patrol upon capture. Additionally, over 500 illegal immigrants, including over 100 unaccompanied children and 39 from special interest countries, have been intercepted in Maverick County as well.
The joint efforts under Operation Lone Star have been presented as a means to address what state officials term as inadequate federal intervention. The operation continues, with the Office of the Texas Governor asserting, "Texas is stepping up to secure our border and protect our communities—and our nation," as Texas agencies and the National Guard carry on their missions along the border.
