Governor Greg Abbott, the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), and the Texas National Guard continue to work together to secure the border; stop the smuggling of drugs, weapons, and people into Texas; and prevent, detect, and interdict transnational criminal activity between ports of entry.
Since the launch of Operation Lone Star, the multi-agency effort has led to over 517,400 illegal immigrant apprehensions and more than 45,900 criminal arrests, with more than 39,800 felony charges. In the fight against the fentanyl crisis, Texas law enforcement has seized over 518 million lethal doses of fentanyl, enough to kill every man, woman, and child in the United States and Mexico combined during this border mission.
Texas has also transported:
- Over 12,500 migrants to Washington, D.C. since April 2022
- Over 45,900 migrants to New York City since August 2022
- Over 36,900 migrants to Chicago since August 2022
- Over 3,400 migrants to Philadelphia since November 2022
- Over 19,200 migrants to Denver since May 2023
- Over 1,500 migrants to Los Angeles since June 2023
Operation Lone Star continues to fill the dangerous gaps created by the Biden-Harris 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 Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris’ open border policies.
RECENT HIGHLIGHTS FROM OPERATION LONE STAR:
Governor Abbott issued an Executive Order yesterday directing the Texas Health and Human Services Commission to collect information on illegal immigrants who use Texas public hospitals for inpatient and emergency care and report incurred healthcare costs due to the Biden-Harris Administration’s reckless open border policies.
“Texas should not have to shoulder the burden of financially supporting medical care for illegal immigrants,” said Governor Abbott. “That is why I issued an Executive Order requiring the Texas Health and Human Services Commission to collect and report healthcare costs for illegal immigrants in our state. Texas will hold the Biden-Harris Administration accountable for the consequences of their open border policies, and we will fight to ensure that they pay back Texas for their costly and dangerous policies.”
Read the Governor’s Executive Order here.
Governor Abbott: Texas National Guard Boat Teams Deny Illegal Entry
Yesterday, Governor Abbott on X, formerly known as Twitter, shared photos of Texas National Guard boat teams patrolling the Rio Grande River to stop migrants from illegally crossing.
The Governor noted that Operation Lone Star continues to work around the clock while the Biden-Harris Administration refuses to secure the southern border.
Governor Abbott: Operation Lone Star Engineers Triple Razor Wire In Eagle Pass
Governor Abbott earlier this week showcased Texas National Guard engineers working on Operation Lone Star installing razor wire barriers along the Texas-Mexico border in Eagle Pass.
Texas will continue to hold the line until the Biden-Harris Administration fulfills its constitutional duty to secure the border.
