Governor Greg Abbott, the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), and the Texas National Guard are continuing to work together to secure the border; stop the smuggling of drugs, weapons, and people into Texas; and prevent, detect, and interdict transnational criminal behavior between ports of entry.
Since the launch of Operation Lone Star, the multi-agency effort has led to over 336,000 migrant apprehensions and more than 23,000 criminal arrests, with more than 20,000 felony charges reported. In the fight against fentanyl, DPS has seized over 354 million lethal doses of fentanyl during this border mission.
Texas has also bused more than 8,700 migrants to our nation’s capital since April, over 4,500 migrants to New York City since August 5, more than 1,500 migrants to Chicago since August 31, and more than 520 migrants to Philadelphia since November 15.
Operation Lone Star continues to fill the dangerous gaps left by the Biden Administration’s refusal to secure the border. Every individual who is apprehended or arrested and every ounce of drugs seized would have otherwise made their way into communities across Texas and the nation due to President Biden’s open border policies.
RECENT HIGHLIGHTS FROM OPERATION LONE STAR:
Governor Abbott Demands Federal Border Action Ahead Of Polar Vortex
This week, Governor Abbott demanded President Joe Biden immediately deploy federal assets to address the dire border crisis, particularly in the City of El Paso, as a dangerously cold polar vortex moves into Texas. In a letter to President Biden, the Governor highlights the humanitarian crisis caused by federal inaction to secure America’s southern border that is putting the lives of migrants at risk, with thousands illegally crossing into Texas every day and those numbers expected to increase if Title 42 expulsions end.
“These communities and the state are ill-equipped to do the job assigned to the federal government—house the thousands of migrants flooding into the country every day,” reads the letter. “With perilous temperatures moving into the area, many of these migrants are at risk of freezing to death on city streets. The need to address this crisis is not the job of border states like Texas. Instead, the U.S. Constitution dictates that it is your job, Mr. President, to defend the borders of our country, regulate our nation’s immigration, and manage those who seek refuge here.”
Read Governor Abbott’s letter to President Biden.
WATCH: Governor Abbott Says President Biden Lacks Solutions To Border Crisis
Governor Abbott joined Fox News’ Jesse Watters this week to discuss the ongoing chaos at the southern border caused by President Biden’s reckless open border policies. Over two years ago, America had the most secure border in decades with President Trump’s four notably effective border policies: Remain in Mexico, Title 42, ending catch-and-release, and building a border wall.
“Now under President Biden, America has far more record-setting numbers of people coming across the border than ever before,” said Governor Abbott. “Texas is having to step up and take extraordinary efforts that have never been undertaken by any state in the history of the United States to try to secure our border.”
WATCH: Governor Abbott Details Border Crisis As Title 42 Potential Ending Looms
With the future of Title 42 uncertain, Governor Abbott spoke with Fox News’ America’s Newsroom this week to highlight the urgent need for the Biden Administration to enact meaningful border security measures. Texas border communities are already experiencing a record-breaking influx of illegal immigration, and if Title 42 is permanently lifted those numbers are expected to increase dramatically.
“Texas is left to pick up the pieces of the border disaster caused by the Biden Administration,” said Governor Abbott. “It was only after President Biden came into office and enacted his open border policies that we have an all-time record for the number of people coming across the border illegally.”
