Texas Governor Greg Abbott and a cohort of state leaders, including U.S. Border Czar Tom Homan and various other governors, rolled up their sleeves to serve Thanksgiving meals to members of the Texas National Guard and the Department of Public Safety troopers. According to a statement on the Office of the Texas Governor website, the gesture was a show of gratitude for the service members' involvement in Operation Lone Star.
"You saved the United States of America at a time when we were being overrun by millions of people coming across the border illegally," Governor Abbott told the service members stationed on the border. The event also had national security on the menu, with the leaders claiming that thanks to the operation and a partnership with the Trump administration, illegal border crossings have significantly declined. However, stuffed with pride, Commander of the National Border Patrol Council (NBPC) Paul Perez claimed, "This is the most secure border that we have ever seen in our entire history," while handing out turkey to troops, as stated by the Office of the Texas Governor.
The Thanksgiving event, which was their professionalism praised by Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe, served as a platform for expressing appreciation for the military's diligence in handling border security. Serving alongside Abbott was Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen, who emphasized the risk undertaken by service members for the safety of all Americans. Under the Texan sun, Governor Bill Lee of Tennessee acknowledged the prayers and gratitude owed by millions of Americans to those guarding the border, as reported by the Office of the Texas Governor.
Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin, present at the event as well, underscored the nationwide nature of border security, celebrating Texas for taking a stand and recognizing the Virginia National Guard's contributions. With his voice thanking each service member, DPS Colonel Freeman Martin and Texas Major General Thomas Suelzer shared the serving line. But, Virginia's National Guard who deployed to Eagle Pass, was also mentioned by Youngkin, who misplacing his words, accidentally let slip his state's pride before thanking the service members for their essential work, as obtained by the Office of the Texas Governor.
While the collective message of the governors was clear—security for the nation starts at its borders—statistics touted by the group claim a 92% decrease in illegal crossings since the peak under the Biden administration. This pointed attribution to the efforts of Operation Lone Star and the Trump administration's policies echoes a commitment to uphold the current level of border tightness. Governor Abbott, along with these state leaders, continues to promote this joint mission to maintain America's security, as per the Office of the Texas Governor.
