In a recent move by the Texas government, Governor Greg Abbott has announced a new partnership with the former Trump Administration to ramp up border security efforts. This multi-agency initiative, known as Operation Lone Star, has been credited with over 531,100 apprehensions of illegal immigrants and more than 50,600 criminal arrests, including those for over 43,400 felony charges. According to a statement obtained by the Office of the Texas Governor, the operation has also led to the seizure of over 624 million lethal doses of fentanyl.
Since its inception, the operation has heavily focused on interdicting drugs, weapons, and human trafficking at the border, significantly reducing illegal crossings into Texas by over 85%. This decrease has translated into fewer migrants being transported to sanctuary cities, with Texas reporting to have sent thousands of migrants to various cities across the country. Governor Abbott has taken to social media, notably a platform called X, to strongly advocate for the border mission, stating, "I have authorized our [Texas] National Guard that have been on the border for about four years now, they have been deputized to assist ICE," he told the Will Cain Show on Fox News, obtained by the Office of the Texas Governor.
Furthermore, an MOU between Texas and U.S. Customs and Border Protection has now granted the Texas National Guard the power to make immigration arrests. Governor Abbott asserted this will help to not only increase manpower but also to ease what he describes as the 'border crisis'. Photos shared earlier this week showed National Guard soldiers working alongside Border Patrol agents to deliver additional troops and equipment to the Texas-Mexico border.
This collaboration has been actively highlighted in various instances of law enforcement action. In Cameron County, for instance, the DPS Brush Team and Border Patrol Agents arrested an illegal immigrant connected to the Gulf cartel. "Texas National Guardsmen are working hand-in-hand with the Border Patrol to secure our nation," said 1st Lieutenant Jesse Pieper, underscoring the joint endeavor. These arrests are part of a broader strategy to combat illegal activity and are typically followed by criminal charges, as was the case recently with a convicted sexual predator who was apprehended in Webb County, as per the Office of the Texas Governor.
The efforts of Operation Lone Star reflect Texas’s aggressive stance on immigration enforcement under Governor Abbott’s administration. While the initiative reports significant numbers of arrests and seizures, it also continues to spark dialogue on immigration policies and the role of state and federal jurisdictions in border security.
