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 526,600 illegal immigrant apprehensions and more than 48,700 criminal arrests, with more than 41,900 felony charges. In the fight against the fentanyl crisis, Texas law enforcement has seized over 553 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 decreased illegal crossings into the state by over 86% due to our historic border security mission. Fewer illegal crossings into Texas means fewer migrants to transport to sanctuary cities. Since the start of Texas’ transportation program, the state has 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 federal government’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 open border policies.
RECENT HIGHLIGHTS FROM OPERATION LONE STAR:
WATCH: Governor Abbott: Texas’ Floating Marine Barriers Are Effective For Denying Illegal Entry
On Wednesday, Governor Abbott joined Fox Business’ Maria Bartiromo to announce that Texas is expanding the length of the floating marine barriers along the Rio Grande River in Eagle Pass. These low-cost border barriers have been successful to deny illegal entry into Texas and are just one of the effective tools Texas continues to deploy to secure the border.
“These buoys were designed by the Border Patrol because they were in fact effective at denying illegal entry,” said Governor Abbott. “As soon as I put them in the [Rio Grande River], Joe Biden files a lawsuit to put a stop to it. I told Joe Biden to stick it and that we are keeping the buoys in the river; they’ve remained in the river ever since then. What we’re doing this morning is expanding those buoys in the river. They are completely effective at denying illegal entry. This is a way to prevent people from entering the state of Texas at a lower cost.”
WATCH: Governor Abbott: Texas’ Migrant Transportation Program Alerted America To Border Crisis
Earlier this week, Governor Abbott joined Fox News’ Sean Hannity, where he touted Texas’ unprecedented migrant transportation program and highlighted the program’s success in bringing national attention to the federal government’s border crisis.
“We found the right way—the legal way—to be able to move migrants that Biden dropped off into our neighborhoods in South Texas and move them to sanctuary cities,” said Governor Abbott. “What was once a Texas problem turned out to be a problem for the entire United States of America. That compelled Americans to get up in arms and be angry about what Biden and Harris had done and make sure that we elected a President who was going to solve it.”
Governor Abbott: Razor Wire Barriers Work
On Wednesday, Governor Abbott showcased photos on X, formerly known as Twitter, of Texas National Guard soldiers installing razor wire barriers in Eagle Pass.
Razor wire barriers are one of the many strategies Texas utilizes that contribute to the 86% decrease in illegal crossings into Texas.
Texas will continue to secure our border to keep our communities safe.
Governor Abbott: Border Wall Construction Continues In Val Verde County
This week on X, Governor Abbott shared footage of construction workers installing more border wall panels in Val Verde County.
Texas will continue to add more miles of border wall to secure the Texas-Mexico border.
