Texas Border: State Repels 650+ Illegal Crossings Governor Says
"Operation Lone Star" credited with sharp drop in migrant crossings - but there are still concerns about a possible "border rush" before President-Elect Trump takes office.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott says the state's "Operation Lone Star" border security mission "deterred and repelled more than 650 illegal border crossings over the past week." The governor credits the National Guard Troops and Texas State Troopers assigned to the operation with "decreasing illegal crossings into the state by over 86%."
"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." - Texas Governor Greg Abbott (November 15, 2024)
One of the barriers Texas has installed to prevent illegal crossings from Mexico is a "floating barrier" of buoys at what had been a hot spot of cartel human smuggling on the Rio Grande in Eagle Pass.
The Biden Administration sued the state, demanding their removal. Texas fought back in the courts - and the barrier remains in place:
"Over a year ago, Texas placed floating marine barriers in the Rio Grande. The buoys reinforce our efforts to deter and repel illegal immigration. Despite the Biden-Harris Administration’s efforts to remove these barriers from the river, that is exactly where they will stay." - Texas Governor Greg Abbott (November 16, 2024)
The state has also installed miles of razor and concertina wire along its side of the Rio Grande to make it difficult for anyone attempting to illegally cross the river to set foot on Texas soil.
And - for those who aren't deterred by the barriers - and the presence of Texas troops at the river's edge - Texas State Troopers and National Guardsmen are conducting joint "Brush Patrols" inland to catch those who make it past the gauntlet "Operation Lone Star" has placed in their path.
Still - as Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) surveillance cameras show - the migrants and their human smuggling guides keep coming:
"Surveillance cameras along the border capture what most don’t see - the gotaways, border wall breachers, & groups of illegal immigrants traversing through ranch lands. The State of Texas will continue to use every resource - specialized brush teams, K9s, Air Support, border infrastructure, & law enforcement functions to help protect our great state & nation." - Lt. Chris Olivarez, Texas Department of Public Safety (November 16, 2024)
Some cartel human smugglers even provide migrants with homemade ladders to scale the "border walls" Texas is expanding through "Operation Lone Star:"
Despite the success Texas is having in deterring illegal crossings, the state is not backing down. U.S. Senator John Cornyn of Texas warns of the danger of a "border rush" by migrants in the coming weeks:
"Human smugglers are spreading a message to U.S.-bound migrants: Hurry up and sneak in before President-elect Donald Trump takes office." -U.S. Senator John Cornyn [R-Texas] - (November 15, 2024)
Are you concerned about a potential migrant "surge" on the US - Mexico Border before President-Elect Trump takes office?
Share your thoughts in a comment to this article.
Abrazos,
Jack Beavers
