texas border operations
AUSTIN — Governor Greg Abbott, the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), and the Texas National Guard continue to cooperate with border security efforts. Stopping the smuggling of drugs, weapons, and people into Texas. Prevent, detect and deter cross-border criminal activity between ports of entry.
Since the beginning of Operation Lone Star, multi-agency efforts have resulted in more than 526,600 illegal immigrant arrests, more than 48,700 criminal arrests, and more than 41,900 felony charges. In the fight against the fentanyl crisis, Texas law enforcement has seized more than 553 million lethal doses of fentanyl. This is enough to kill all U.S. and Mexican men, women, and children combined during this border mission.
Texas has reduced illegal border crossings into the state by more than 86% due to its historic border security mission. Fewer people entering Texas illegally means fewer migrants being transported to sanctuary cities.
Since the inception of Texas’ transportation program, the state has transported:
More than 12,500 immigrants to Washington DC since April 2022 More than 45,900 immigrants to New York City since August 2022 More than 36,900 immigrants to Chicago since August 2022 More than 3,400 people moving to Philadelphia More than 19,200 people moving to Denver after May 2023 Over 1,500 people moving to Los Angeles starting June 2023
Operation Lone Star continues to bridge the dangerous gap created by the federal government’s refusal to secure the border. Otherwise, due to open border policies, every individual arrested or apprehended and every drug seized would have entered communities in Texas and across the country.
Recent highlights from Operation Lone Star:
Governor Abbott: Texas’ historic busing plan makes illegal immigration a national issue
On Monday, on X, formerly known as Twitter, Governor Abbott touted Texas’ border transportation program and said the federal government’s historic action has made the federal border crisis a national issue.
Texas will continue to hold the line and work with President Donald Trump to protect Texans and Americans.
Governor Abbott: Texas is preparing for potential large-scale immigration
Yesterday, Governor Abbott shared photos of the Texas National Guard fortifying the border wall in preparation for a potential mass migration.
Texas will continue to deploy all available tools and strategies in our historic border mission to protect and defend our state and nation.
Governor Abbott: “Operation Lone Star will continue to deter illegal crossings”
On Tuesday, Governor Abbott shared with X a photo of the Texas National Guard repelling immigrants who tried to cross into Texas illegally.
Thanks to Texas’ historic and ongoing border security efforts, illegal border crossings into the state have decreased by 86%.
Governor Abbott: Texas thanks governors nationwide for supporting border security mission
Earlier this week, Governor Abbott shared photos with X of fellow governors from around the country who continue to support the ongoing border security battle in Texas.
In February, Governor Abbott was joined by 13 other governors from across the United States who stand in solidarity with the federal government’s right to protect Texas from border crises.
Attention: DPS arrests smuggler in Hidalgo County
Last weekend, a smuggler driving a black Volkswagen Jetta led DPS units on a chase along Route 83 in Hidalgo County. DPS officers conducted a PIT maneuver on the suspect’s vehicle and were able to thwart the pursuit.
The smuggler, Miguel Ángel Abasta Montalvo, is an illegal immigrant from Mexico and was arrested on charges of human smuggling and evading arrest. DPS officers reported the five illegal immigrants inside the vehicle to the Border Patrol.
Attention: DPS finds two illegal immigrants inside gas tank in Webb County
During a commercial vehicle stop on IH-35 in Webb County, DPS officers discovered two illegal immigrants hiding inside the gas tank of a truck tractor.
Rico Gonzalo, a truck-tractor driver from Laredo, was charged with two counts of smuggling. Officers referred two illegal immigrants from Mexico to the Border Patrol.
Texas National Guard repulses hundreds of illegal immigration raids in one week
Operation Lone Star’s drone teams continue to support ground forces in interdicting and repelling more than 650 illegal border crossings in the past week.
Texas National Guard drone teams use advanced video and imaging technology to identify groups of illegal immigrants. Once an illegal immigrant is identified, the drone maintains visual contact and notifies the Texas National Guard and law enforcement officers. Ground forces respond and stop a group of illegal immigrants from entering Texas from Mexico.
Mass migration training by Texas National Guard and DPS units continues
Texas National Guard troops assigned to Operation Lone Star worked with DPS units this week during a large-scale relocation exercise. Joint training allows agencies to share best practices and capabilities in responding to illegal immigration attempts along the border.
A seamless multi-agency response at the border is a critical and effective part of our ongoing mission to secure and combat cross-border criminal activity along the Texas-Mexico border.
WATCH: Texas National Guard joins forces to install more anti-climb fences
In El Paso, Texas National Guard troops from Task Force Western continue to install razor wire and anti-climbing fencing as a key element of Operation Lone Star to deter and repel illegal immigration from Mexico to Texas.
Effectively and safely deploying new strategic barriers requires one team of engineers to build the anti-climb barriers and a security platoon to protect them during the installation process.
“Whenever an engineering company is out there putting up a fence, (the security platoon’s) main job is to protect our Soldiers and keep us out of harm’s way,” said Sergeant Mark Lester Landiccio. “I want to thank the people of Texas and the American people for their continued support.”
