
The fight against the Tren de Aragua gang, labeled as a foreign terrorist organization by Texas Governor Greg Abbott, intensifies as state law enforcement and the Texas National Guard press on with Operation Lone Star. In recent efforts, over 530,400 illegal immigrant apprehensions and more than 49,900 criminal arrests, encompassing over 42,900 felony charges have been reported, according to Governor Abbott's office. The multi-agency initiative has also seized over 620 million lethal doses of fentanyl, spotlighting the persistent fentanyl crisis.
Last week, Governor Abbott announced that DPS troopers apprehended four members of the Tren de Aragua as they attempted to illegally cross the border on New Year's Eve, with one member displaying rank signifying tattoos, "Texas Department of Public Safety troopers identified and arrested four vicious TdA gang members attempting to illegally cross the border from Mexico into the state," said Office of the Texas Governor Abbott, as his office seeks to deny the gang any operational foothold in Texas, and despite the significant number of apprehensions, the Governor continues to express concern over what he views as an open border policy allowing dangerous individuals into the country.
Abbott's ongoing critique of federal border policy was highlighted earlier this week during an interview with Fox News’ Sean Hannity where he condemned what he calls President Joe Biden’s leadership failure, "When the deportations begin in about two weeks, there’s going to be a rapid change," said Office of the Texas Governor Abbott, hinting at partnership with former President Trump and immigration official Tom Homan, to identify and deport potentially thousands of people from Texas jails. Meanwhile, the Governor's office has shared footage of Texas National Guard soldiers fortifying barriers along the Rio Grande River and has noted the continued construction of the state's own border wall, signaling an enduring commitment to border security measures.
The Texas National Guard's utilization of advanced technology, including drones and M2S2 trucks equipped with radar and thermal imaging has been crucial in identifying over 190 immigrants attempting to cross the Texas-Mexico border illegally just last week, and while the National Guard's advanced surveillance methods enable a strategic response, riverine operations remain a staple first line of defense with soldiers deploying tactics such as tracking and intercepting illegal crossing attempts, "Whenever there is a raft on the U.S. banks, we destroy it so the coyotes or whoever is crossing can’t come retrieve that and use it again," Sergeant Cody Ingram explained regarding their protocol to disrupt migrant activities, as detailed by the Office of the Texas Governor.
Focusing on the ground, the Texas Department of Public Safety has made notable arrests, including those of six illegal immigrants in Maverick County by DPS K-9 Shark and his handler, following up with the successful charge of an Austin-based human smuggler, Yahaira Mireles Ramirez, for six counts of smuggling of persons, as she was caught with individuals from Honduras, El Salvador, and Mexico concealed in her vehicle; all individuals have since been referred to Border Patrol.