Over 50,000 migrants have been transported to sanctuary cities across the United States as part of Operation Lone Star, a new initiative to tighten border security in Texas. The operation, announced by Governor Greg Abbott on October 6, 2023, aims to combat what Abbott labels as gaps caused by the Biden Administration's stance on border security.
Under Operation Lone Star, the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) and the Texas National Guard are working together to fortify the border against smuggling activities and other transnational criminal operations. Since its inception, the operation has led to the apprehension of 473,900 illegal immigrants, 34,800 criminal arrests, and the filing of 31,800 felony charges. Additionally, the state's crackdown on fentanyl trafficking has resulted in the seizure of over 431 million lethal doses.
As part of the initiative, migrants who are apprehended are being transported to various cities, including Washington, D.C., New York City, and Chicago. Since April 2022, 12,500 migrants have been transported to Washington, D.C., while 18,500 migrants have been sent to New York City and 13,500 migrants to Chicago since August 2022.
Governor Abbott has been critical of the federal government's approach to border security and believes that the migrants and drugs intercepted by Operation Lone Star would have otherwise entered Texas and other U.S. communities due to President Joe Biden's policies. To further address border security, Abbott has declared it a focal point in the upcoming Third Special Session, starting on Monday, October 9, 2023. Proposed legislation during the session will mirror federal immigration laws that Abbott asserts President Biden is not enforcing.
In a proclamation issued for the extraordinary session of the 88th Legislature, Abbott announced that licensed law enforcement officers in Texas will have the authority to detain or remove anyone who enters the state illegally. Non-compliance or repeated illegal entry could result in penalties of up to 20 years in prison. The session will also address other items on the agenda, including providing education savings accounts for Texas schoolchildren, enhancing penalties related to smuggling, funding for border barrier infrastructure, and a prohibition on COVID-19 vaccine mandates by private employers.
With this robust response to border security, Texas aims to address the challenges it perceives arising from federal policies and assert its authority in managing its borders.
