Category: Family

Governor Greg Abbott, the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), and the Texas National Guard are continuing to work together to secure the border; stop the smuggling of drugs, weapons, and people into Texas; and prevent, detect, and interdict transnational criminal behavior between ports of entry. Governor Greg Abbott, the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), and the Texas National Guard are continuing to work together to secure the border; stop the smuggling of drugs, weapons, and people into Texas; and prevent, detect, and interdict transnational criminal behavior between ports of entry.

Since the launch of Operation Lone Star, the multi-agency effort has led to over 406,500 illegal immigrant apprehensions and more than 32,700 criminal arrests, with more than 29,900 felony charges reported. In the fight against fentanyl, Texas law enforcement has seized over 422 million lethal doses of fentanyl during this border mission.

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.

RECENT HIGHLIGHTS FROM OPERATION LONE STAR:

GOVERNOR ABBOTT: Texas Will Bus Migrants Until Biden Secures The Border

On Thursday, Governor Abbott provided an update on Texas’ migrant busing strategy to provide much-needed relief to the state’s overwhelmed border communities. Since beginning the busing strategy last spring, more than 30,000 migrants have been transported to self-declared sanctuary cities, including:

Over 10,700 to Washington, D.C. since April 2022
Over 11,500 to New York City since August 2022
Over 4,900 migrants to Chicago since August 2022
Over 2,100 to Philadelphia since November 2022
Over 520 to Denver since May 18

Over 290 to Los Angeles since June 14

WATCH: Lt. Olivarez: Armed Cartel Members Escorting Migrants Across Border

DPS Lieutenant Chris Olivarez joined Fox News’ Neil Cavuto where he explained how President Biden’s refusal to secure the border has emboldened Mexican drug cartels to arm their members as they help migrants cross into Texas from Mexico.

“It really goes to show that they have taken it to another level of brazenness of showing how bold they are and that they really don’t care what will happen,” said Lt. Olivarez. “They know they’re in control. That’s what we’re trying to do as far as a state agency–to show that we are the ones who are in control. We’re going to prevent what’s happening on the border and go after the criminals and arrest them. It all falls back to not having border policies in place to stop what’s happening between the ports of entry–this is the clear result.”

DPS Find 10 Children Abandoned By Smugglers Near Sullivan City

DPS troopers working a joint operation with Border Patrol encountered 10 unaccompanied minors from Honduras and Guatemala near Sullivan City. The smugglers guided the group of children, between the ages of 10 and 16, across the Rio Grande River on a raft. The children were referred to Border Patrol.

DPS Arrests Honduran National For Human Smuggling, Child Pornography

During a traffic stop in Brackettville, DPS troopers arrested a driver for human smuggling. The passenger, Dagoberto Corea Mendez, an illegal immigrant from Honduras, possessed images of child pornography on his phone. Through further investigation, DPS Special Agents found five images of child pornography depicting female children. Corea Mendez admitted that he used the images for sexual gratification. He was jailed and faces criminal felony charges for possession of child pornography.

WATCH: Lt. Olivarez Sets Record Straight About Texas’ Floating Marine Barriers

DPS Lieutenant Chris Olivarez joined Fox Business to set the record straight on claims made about Texas’ floating marine barriers in the Rio Grande River. Lt. Olivarez explained that the marine barriers actually prevent migrant drownings, with the real inhumanity along the Texas-Mexico border being caused by President Biden’s disastrous border policies.

“Drownings continue to take place regardless of the marine barrier,” said Lt. Olivarez. “Ever since that marine barrier has been put in place, there has not be a single illegal crossing directly in front of that barrier or around that barrier. Now the activity has shifted either further up river or down river. The marine barrier is doing it’s job–it’s preventing illegal border crossings, and, most importantly, it’s preventing death.”

Texas Rangers Arrest Known MS-13 Gang Member In Maverick County

DPS Texas Rangers Special Operations Group arrested a known MS-13 gang member from Honduras, Emerson Lopez Fugon, after he was found hiding on a train in Maverick County near Eagle Pass. Lopez Fugon is also a registered sex offender with a violent criminal history, including kidnapping, abduction, and sexual violence.

Texas Rangers Locate Armed Migrant Guide Using Drone In Shelby Park

Texas Rangers Unmanned Aircraft System Operators in Eagle Pass conducted a patrol flight in Shelby Park and observed a male carrying a long gun guiding a group of illegal immigrants across the Rio Grande River. The unidentified male made it back to Mexico. Operators provided GPS coordinates to Border Patrol Agents and authorities in Mexico.

DPS Stops Human Smuggling Attempt By Sex Offender, Locates Stash House

DPS troopers and Special Agents arrested a registered sex offender, Joseph Hamilton of Houston, after disrupting a human smuggling attempt in Eagle Pass. Troopers and Special Agents also located a stash house operated by Tyler Garza of Eagle Pass. Garza, a confirmed Latin King gang member, was arrested and a total of seven illegal immigrants were recovered and referred to Border Patrol.

Texas National Guard Brush Teams Act As First Responders Along Border

Corporal George Sulaica, a brush team leader for Task Force Center Alpha Company, describes his team’s encounters with illegal immigrants while patrolling the border near Laredo. Task Force Center brush teams routinely contact groups of illegal immigrants near the banks of the Rio Grande River, many of whom Cpl. Sulaica says are found extremely dehydrated, hungry, and in need of medical attention.

“It’s not uncommon at all for us to find them,” said Cpl. Sulaica. “They’re extremely dehydrated, some are going to be hungry. They’ve been in some pretty bad situations so we’ll usually give them water. If they do need medical attention, we do call our medics down the line to go and assist them with whatever issues they have. We’ve had instances where we are the first responders there to assist them.”

Governor Greg Abbott, the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), and the Texas National Guard are continuing to work together to secure the border; stop the smuggling of drugs, weapons, and people into Texas; and prevent, detect, and interdict transnational criminal behavior between ports of entry.Governor Greg Abbott, the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), and the Texas National Guard are continuing to work together to secure the border; stop the smuggling of drugs, weapons, and people into Texas; and prevent, detect, and interdict transnational criminal behavior between ports of entry.

Since the launch of Operation Lone Star, the multi-agency effort has led to over 394,200 illegal immigrant apprehensions and more than 31,300 criminal arrests, with more than 29,100 felony charges reported. In the fight against fentanyl, Texas law enforcement has seized over 422 million lethal doses of fentanyl during this border mission.

Texas has also bused:

Over 10,400 migrants to Washington, D.C. since April 2022
Over 10,300 migrants to New York City since August 5
Over 4,100 migrants to Chicago since August 31
Over 2,000 migrants to Philadelphia since November 15
Over 300 migrants to Denver since May 18
Over 160 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.

RECENT HIGHLIGHTS FROM OPERATION LONE STAR:

Governor Abbott Responds To Biden Administration Threat To Sue Over Floating Marine Barriers

Today, Governor Abbott responded to a letter sent by President Biden’s Department of Justice indicating that they plan to sue the State of Texas over the floating marine barriers placed in the Rio Grande River to deter illegal crossings near Eagle Pass. In a thread on Twitter, the Governor emphasized that Texas has the sovereign authority to defend the Texas-Mexico Border.

“The tragic humanitarian crisis on the border was created because of Biden’s refusal to secure the border,” reads the thread. “We will continue to deploy every strategy to protect Texas and Americans — and the migrants risking their lives. We will see you in court, Mr. President.”

Operation Lone Star Statement On Addressing Illegal Crossings

The Office of the Governor on Tuesday issued a joint statement from Texas Border Czar Mike Banks, DPS Director Steve McCraw, and Texas Adjutant General Major General Thomas Suelzer following reporting on directives given under Operation Lone Star:

“No orders or directions have been given under Operation Lone Star that would compromise the lives of those attempting to cross the border illegally. The Texas Department of Public Safety and Texas Military Department continue taking steps to monitor migrants in distress, provide appropriate medical attention when needed, and encourage them to use one of the 29 international bridges along the Texas-Mexico Border where they can safely and legally cross. With migrants from over 150 countries encouraged by open border policies to risk their lives and make this dangerous trek to enter our country illegally, Texas is deploying every tool and strategy to deter and repel illegal crossings between ports of entry.”

Until President Biden reverses his open border policies and does his job to secure the border, Texas will continue protecting Texans and Americans from the chaos along the border.

Read the full statement from Operation Lone Star leaders.

WATCH: DPS Lt. Olivarez Refutes False Claim Of Inhumane Treatment Of Migrants

On Tuesday, DPS Lt. Chris Olivarez spoke with Spectrum News about the false claims that Operation Lone Star endangers the lives of migrants attempting to cross the border. DPS troopers and Texas National Guard soldiers are stationed along the border to prevent and deter illegal crossings and criminal activity by Mexican drug cartels or other criminal organizations, who prioritize profits over people and ruthlessly exploit President Biden’s open border policies.

“At no point has any [DPS] trooper been told to physically push any migrant back into the river, let alone a child,” said Lt. Olivarez. “It really discredits the work our troopers have been doing for the past two years and their character. No trooper would ever place hands on a migrant and use force to push them back into the river. When we say ‘pushing back,’ we’re talking about messaging and having a show of force; standing at the river and telling migrants that it is closed, you can’t cross here, and you have to go to a port of entry and seek asylum where it’s safe and humane.”

WATCH: DPS Lt. Olivarez Highlights Texas’ Nonstop Work On Border Security

This week, DPS Lt. Olivarez joined Fox News to discuss the new floating marine barriers in the Rio Grande River near Eagle Pass that have been installed to keep people from making dangerous and illegal river crossings. Despite criticism of Texas’ latest deterrence effort, Lt. Olivarez notes that Operation Lone Star personnel work night and day along the border to maintain law and order in the region as the Biden Administration continues to turn a blind eye to the crisis at the border.

“We want to discourage anyone thinking about crossing the river so they can go to a port of entry when seeking asylum and to prevent smugglers and criminals from taking advantage of the migrants crossing the river, extorting them for money, and robbing them of their personal belongings,” said Lt. Olivarez. “It’s another added layer of defense to what we have in place already with razor wire, boots on the ground, and boats in the water. It’s all to discourage and deter any potential unlawful crossings at the river.”

DPS Troopers Arrest Illegal Immigrant For Criminal Trespass, Endangering Child

As part of Operation Lone Star, DPS troopers in Eagle Pass arrested an illegal immigrant from Honduras for criminal trespass and endangering a child causing imminent danger after witnessing him throw a 1-year-old infant into the Rio Grande River while trying to cross illegally. The child went under water and was in clear distress. The illegal immigrant eventually went back and grabbed the child.

He was detained and now faces charges of criminal trespass and felony child endangerment.

WATCH: DPS Trooper Discovers 7 Illegal Immigrants Being Smuggled In Truck

A DPS trooper conducting a traffic stop in Kinney County discovered seven illegal immigrants, including two children, being smuggled in the back seat of the truck. The driver, who is an illegal immigrant from Mexico, is charged with smuggling of persons. The seven illegal immigrants were referred to Border Patrol.

DPS Troopers, Medics Rescue Teenager Injured During Attempted River Crossing

DPS troopers and medics rescued a 17-year-old illegal immigrant from Venezuela, who sustained an ankle injury while crossing the Rio Grande River. DPS medics provided field triage and facilitated medical transport to a local hospital.

Texas National Guard Aids Law Enforcement In Curbing Illegal Activity In Laredo

Texas National Guard soldiers assigned to Task Force Center in Laredo assist local law enforcement officials in responding to a significant increase in criminal activity, such as human and drug smuggling. Soldiers use advanced night vision equipment to patrol known human and drug smuggling routes and communicate directly with local and state law enforcement to synchronize border security efforts.

Unmanned aerial vehicles and other aviation assets are also used to safely and effectively conduct operations, which have led to more than 210,000 apprehensions and referrals to law enforcement from the border region since Operation Lone Star was launched in March 2021.

“The soldiers of Task Force Center are flexible and highly motivated for mission success,” said 1st Sgt. Nate Warfield. “We will continue to prevent, deter, and interdict transnational criminal activity along the Texas-Mexico border with our law enforcement partners.”

WATCH: Texas National Guard Partners With Technical College To Build Barriers

Texas National Guard engineers from the 175th Engineer Brigade in Task Force West work to establish effective concertina wire border barriers to prevent and deter illegal border crossings in the El Paso region. For welding and technical skills needed in the construction of new barriers, the Texas National Guard partnered with Western Technical College in El Paso to expand the capabilities of the soldiers, enhance their training in building effective barriers, and increase the efficiency of completing the Operation Lone Star mission to protect the local community and Texas against illegal border activity.

“We are extremely honored that the Texas Guard brought this to our attention and to be able to play a small part in making a difference,” said Western Technical College President Dr. Maxine Valencia. “It is such an honor to be a part of this initiative. We look forward to continuing building our partnership and seeing what we can accomplish together.”