Texas Governor Greg Abbott has been active on social media, sharing updates about the state's ongoing border security mission, Operation Lone Star. The initiative, a multi-agency effort involving the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) and the Texas National Guard, has led to over 529,500 illegal immigrant apprehensions and more than 49,400 criminal arrests, according to a news release from the Governor's office.
In his recent post on X, formerly known as Twitter, Abbott showcased National Guard soldiers installing razor wire barriers near El Paso, a measure upheld by a U.S. Court of Appeals ruling as within Texas' rights. "These effective border barriers are strategically placed in front of a large levy drain, allowing water and debris to flow while stopping illegal crossings into Texas," the Governor stated.
Efforts to combat illegal immigration and drug smuggling have included the seizure of over 588 million lethal doses of fentanyl, a substance linked to an ongoing crisis across the nation. Abbott emphasized that the drugs seized would have otherwise ended up in communities across Texas and the nation.
The Texas National Guard has also been reinforcing razor wire barriers along the border, an effort believed to reduce illegal crossings significantly. The guards have installed barriers across new key terrains to block illegal crossings, especially in low-water areas along the Rio Grande River. "This week, while conducting a river assessment, we noticed a potential (cartel-associated) drop-off location used for illegal trafficking," Texas National Guard Staff Sergeant Isais Mayen told the Governor's office. "To prevent future use of this location, we alerted our law enforcement partners of the activity."
Operation Lone Star's impact is evidenced not just in arrests and drug seizures but also in the transportation of migrants to various U.S. cities. As part of Texas' transportation program, over 12,500 migrants were sent to Washington, D.C., and over 45,900 to New York City, with other cities also receiving thousands since the program's initiation.
Recent highlights from the operation include arrests of individuals such as Nery Flores Flores, a confirmed Mexican Mafia gang member, and Kevin Cruz Diaz, who led troopers on a high-speed pursuit before being charged with multiple offenses including smuggling of persons with a firearm.
