Governor Greg Abbott, the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), and the Texas National Guard are ramping up their efforts to secure the state’s border. Through a multi-agency initiative known as Operation Lone Star, over 529,500 illegal immigrants have been apprehended, and more than 49,400 criminal arrests have been made since the operation began. Additionally, Texas law enforcement has seized more than 588 million lethal doses of fentanyl during the mission.
The state has reported an 87% drop in illegal crossings, resulting in fewer migrants being sent to sanctuary cities. Texas’ transportation program has successfully moved large numbers of migrants to cities like Washington D.C., New York City, Chicago, Philadelphia, Denver, and Los Angeles.
Operation Lone Star focuses on addressing gaps left by federal border security policies. Recent efforts under this operation include the reinforcement of razor wire barriers near El Paso and ongoing construction of a border wall in Maverick County. Governor Abbott has been sharing updates on these developments through the social media platform X.
In Kinney County, DPS troopers arrested two individuals for trespassing on private property. One suspect, Nery Flores Flores, a known Mexican Mafia gang member, has a criminal history that includes aggravated assault.
In another case, a high-speed chase in La Salle County led to the arrest of Kevin Cruz Diaz from El Salvador, who was charged with smuggling offenses after evading authorities.
Texas National Guard engineers have extended the razor wire barriers along key sections of the border to deter illegal crossings from Mexico. Their boat teams continue to patrol the Rio Grande River to prevent unauthorized entries into Texas.
Specialist Leonardo Cartagena emphasized the significance of these operations for community safety along the southern border: “Operation Lone Star is important to me because I was born and raised here in Texas,” he said.
