AUSTIN – 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 494,400 illegal immigrant apprehensions and more than 38,100 criminal arrests, with more than 34,600 felony charges. In the fight against the fentanyl crisis, Texas law enforcement has seized over 453 million lethal doses of fentanyl during this border mission.
Texas has also bused:
Over 12,500 migrants to Washington, D.C. since April 2022
Over 35,600 migrants to New York City since August 2022
Over 29,400 migrants to Chicago since August 2022
Over 3,400 migrants to Philadelphia since November 2022
Over 15,000 migrants to Denver since May 18
Over 1,400 migrants to Los Angeles since June 14
Operation Lone Star continues to fill the dangerous gaps created 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 Joe Biden’s open border policies.
Yesterday, Governor Abbott issued a statement following New York City Mayor Eric Adams announcing a lawsuit against bus companies participating in Texas’ migrant transportation mission.
“This lawsuit is baseless and deserves to be sanctioned. It’s clear that Mayor Adams knows nothing about the Commerce Clause of the U.S. Constitution, or about the constitutional right to travel that has been recognized by the U.S. Supreme Court. Every migrant bused or flown to New York City did so voluntarily, after having been authorized by the Biden Administration to remain in the United States. As such, they have constitutional authority to travel across the country that Mayor Adams is interfering with. If the Mayor persists in this lawsuit, he may be held legally accountable for his violations.”
Governor Abbott joined Newsmax yesterday to discuss New York City Mayor Eric Adams’ baseless lawsuit targeting Texas’ migrant transportation program.
“I’m a former Texas Supreme Court justice and former Texas attorney general—I know the law, and Eric Adams does not know the law,” said Governor Abbott. “The Commerce Clause of the United States Constitution, as well as a United States Supreme Court recognized doctrine of the right to travel, means that once the Biden Administration authorizes these migrants to be in the United States they have the constitutional right to travel to New York City. So what Eric Adams is doing is following a baseless lawsuit denying these migrants of their right to travel to New York City. He’s going to lose and lose badly, and I hope he’s forced to pay attorney’s fees.”
On Thursday, Governor Abbott joined Stuart Varney on Fox Business to respond to the latest lawsuit from the Biden Administration against Texas’ Senate Bill 4 to stop illegal entry from a foreign nation.
“If the Biden Administration would put that time into securing the border, as opposed to stopping Texas from securing the border, we wouldn’t have a problem,” said Governor Abbott. “[Because President Biden] refused to secure the border, Texas has and we will continue to erect barriers, repel migrants, [and] bus and fly migrants to New York, Chicago, and other places like that.”
Governor Abbott joined Fox News this week to push back on complaints by New York City officials claiming they cannot handle the influx of migrants coming into their sanctuary city.
“We have more people coming across our border every single day than what New York [City] gets in a week or month,” said Governor Abbott. “It’s outrageous that they’re saying that they cannot deal with this. There’s only one reason why this is happening: Joe Biden has eliminated all of the four policies that Donald Trump put in place that led to the lowest illegal border crossings in 40 years. If the Biden Administration was enforcing the immigration laws passed by Congress, the Mayor of New York and the leaders of New Jersey and Chicago would not be having these problems.”
Governor Abbott joined Fox News’ Sean Hannity earlier this week where he challenged Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas’ recent comments blaming climate change for the mass influx of illegal immigration at the southern border. The Governor argued that the only climate that has changed is the Biden Administration’s refusal to enforce federal immigration law.
“Four years ago, we had the lowest illegal immigration in 40 years and that’s because President Trump put in place four policies: the Remain in Mexico policy, the Title 42 policy, the end of catch and release, and building the border wall,” said Governor Abbott. “When Biden came in, he changed all of that, and he created a climate that—quite literally—attracted people from across the entire world from more than 150 countries. Joe Biden has spent no time trying to stop illegal immigration. He’s only spent time trying to stop Texas from stopping illegal immigration.”
A juvenile led DPS troopers on a high-speed vehicle pursuit in Webb County this week. A trooper was able to stop the vehicle using a PIT maneuver, then the passenger bailed out.
Troopers arrested and charged the driver and passenger, both juveniles, with evading arrest and smuggling of persons. Five illegal immigrants were found inside the vehicle. All were referred to Border Patrol.
NBC’s Morgan Chesky joined DPS’ Tactical Marine Unit for an exclusive look at the recent surge in illegal immigrant crossings along the Texas-Mexico border as a result of President Biden’s ongoing refusal to secure the border. Members of the Tactical Marine Unit described the life-threatening risks migrants face attempting to illegally swim across the Rio Grande River.
DPS Lt. Olivarez joined Fox News this week where he explained how the new border security legislation signed into law by Governor Abbott, Senate Bill 4, will help Border Patrol agents who are overwhelmed by the mass influx of illegal immigrants coming into Texas. Senate Bill 4 creates a criminal offense for illegal entry into Texas from a foreign nation.
“The purpose of having this law in place in Texas is so that Texas law enforcement can focus on single adults coming across between ports of entry, and to actually arrest them for making unlawful entry into the state of Texas,” said Lt. Olivarez. “That way…Border Patrol can focus on gotaways and focus on areas of vulnerability along the border. Yet, it seems like our own federal government doesn’t want us to take any action—they want us to turn a blind eye and continue to let what’s happening along the border.”
Texas National Guard Helps Law Enforcement Apprehend Illegal Immigrants
Using advanced optics, Texas National Guard soldiers helped spot a group of illegal immigrants in Laredo. After realizing they had been detected, the group of migrants attempted to flee on foot.
Soldiers, partnering with law enforcement, were able to apprehend the group. A coyote guide, with an extensive criminal record who has illegally crossed the border multiple times, was among those apprehended.
Going into 2024, the Texas National Guard continues to support Operation Lone Star. From El Paso to Brownsville, Texas National Guard soldiers are working around the clock alongside law enforcement partners to stop criminal activity and repel illegal crossings along the border.
