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 527,600 illegal immigrant apprehensions and more than 49,000 criminal arrests, with more than 42,200 felony charges. In the fight against the fentanyl crisis, Texas law enforcement has seized over 573 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 87% 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.
The week of Thanksgiving, Governor Abbott and incoming U.S. Border Czar Tom Homan thanked and served meals to hundreds of Operation Lone Star personnel in Eagle Pass and Edinburg.
“Someone has to stand up for the rule of law, and the people who do that are the men and women of the Texas National Guard and the Texas Department of Public Safety,” said Governor Abbott. “This mission is critical to our future. I have never been more proud of what you all have stepped up to do.”
At the events, Homan praised the success of Texas’ border security measures and mentioned that Operation Lone Star has provided the border enforcement model for the incoming Trump Administration.
“There is unprecedented success in Texas,” said incoming Border Czar Homan. “This is the model we can take across the country. What you have done has not only protected Texas and the citizens of Texas, you are protecting this nation.”
The Governor and the incoming U.S. Border Czar were also joined by National Border Patrol Council (NBPC) President Paul Perez, Adjutant General of Texas Major General Thomas Suelzer, now retired DPS Director Steve McCraw, and Texas Border Czar Mike Banks at the Thanksgiving celebrations.
On Wednesday, Governor Abbott took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to highlight Texas’ border security mission and how it keeps the state—and the nation—safe due to the current federal government’s reckless open border policies.
Texas will continue working with President Donald Trump and Border Czar Homan to secure the border.
On Sunday, Governor Abbott on X spotlighted Texas’ unprecedented border security mission, mentioning that the state’s strategies remain effective to deter and repel illegal immigration.
Thanks to the ongoing efforts of Operation Lone Star personnel, Texas has decreased illegal crossings into the state by over 87% and will continue to use every tool and strategy to deny illegal immigration.
DPS’ new Border Mounted Patrol Unit,which graduated its inaugural class on November 22, made its first apprehension in Maverick County this week. Working with a DPS K-9, the Border Mounted Patrol Unit apprehended two illegal immigrants after a nearly 11-mile track. The two illegal immigrants, from Mexico, were attempting to evade capture by traversing through multiple ranches.
DPS Tracks Down Over 170 Illegal Immigrants, People Of Special InterestIn Maverick County
This week, DPS troopers encountered a group of 176 illegal immigrants in Maverick County. Among the 176, troopers arrested 85 for criminal trespass.
The rest of the illegal immigrants, which included family groups and 11 illegal immigrants of special interest from Afghanistan, were referred to Border Patrol.
On Thanksgiving, a smuggler in a Dodge Caravan led a DPS trooper on a high-speed pursuit through a neighborhood in Starr County. During the pursuit, multiple passengers were observed sticking out of the rear hatch. The smuggler, Felipe Montez of Rio Grande City, bailed out and ran toward the brush.
Multiple illegal immigrants also bailed out and ran in different directions. With the assistance of Border Patrol, all 18 illegal immigrants and Montez were apprehended. DPS troopers charged Montez with smuggling of persons and evading arrest. All 18 illegal immigrants, from Mexico, were referred to Border Patrol.
Texas National Guard Trains With Texas Department Of Public Safety
Texas National Guard soldiers and Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) troopers trained together this week as part of their ongoing work to secure the border and stop illegal crossings. During the multi-agency training, Operation Lone Star partners worked together on implementing turnback tactics to secure key terrain for high traffic areas along the border.
During the training, personnel assigned to civil disturbance operations rehearsed riot responses in low-water crossings, while engineers reinforced existing barriers with triple-strand razor wire and constructed new anti-climb barriers.
Texas NationalGuard Drone Team Works With Ground Forces To Turn Back Illegal Immigrants
This week, Texas National Guard soldiers and airmen working on Operation Lone Star drone teams assisted ground units to stop 24 migrants from illegally entering the U.S. from Mexico.
The team originally spotted two illegal immigrants entering a vehicle and notified DPS troopers, who arrested the illegal immigrants after a brief pursuit. In the same area, the drone team observed three rafts attempting to cross the Rio Grande River. Operation Lone Star personnel moved into the area to intercept the migrants attempting to illegally cross into the state. After seeing Texas National Guard soldiers and law enforcement partners, the illegal immigrants turned the raft around with all 24 suspects returning to Mexico.
In Sanderson, Texas National Guard soldiers work with local law enforcement to intercept illegal immigrants attempting to cross the southern border. Through data collection and information sharing between the Texas National Guard and law enforcement, soldiers can pick up the trail of illegal immigrants to intercept and apprehend them.
“On a day-to-day basis whenever we come on shift, we would attend a muster with local law enforcement, and they will give us points of last known location and direction of travel,” said Sergeant Ethan Nguyen of Task Force West. “We’ll go out there, look for the very little details about their movement and shoe pattern and try to intercept them. Every little bit helps, making sure that no criminals or anyone of that sort get across into the United States of America.”
