Austin, TX — Texas Governor Greg Abbott today announced a significant expansion of Operation Lone Star, the state-led initiative aimed at addressing illegal immigration and securing the Texas border. The Governor cited the necessity for enhanced state action at the border, particularly following recent federal court rulings pertaining to Senate Bill 4 (S.B. 4), as the driving force behind this operational surge.
State Announces Significant Personnel Increase
central component of this new phase involves the deployment of an additional 1,500 personnel to the Eagle Pass sector of the Rio Grande. This substantial force comprises both Texas National Guard members and state troopers from the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS). The personnel are being directed to an area known for high levels of irregular border crossings, reinforcing the state’s physical presence and operational capacity on the ground.
The addition of 1,500 personnel represents a considerable increase in the state’s existing presence under Operation Lone Star. These forces are tasked with a variety of missions, including surveillance, interdiction, and infrastructure enhancement. The concentration of these resources in the Eagle Pass area underscores the state’s focus on this specific sector, which has been identified as a critical point in the ongoing border situation.
Focus on Tactical Infrastructure and Wire Placement
A key objective of this expanded deployment is the acceleration and increase of concertina wire placements along the riverbank and adjacent areas. Concertina wire has been a controversial but frequently utilized tool by the state under Operation Lone Star to impede direct crossings. State officials indicated that the surge is specifically aimed at dramatically increasing the amount of this tactical infrastructure.
Furthermore, the deployed personnel will be tasked with utilizing other forms of tactical infrastructure as part of the comprehensive effort to deter and channel migrant flows. This infrastructure could include temporary barriers, fencing, and other physical impediments designed to make unauthorized entry more difficult and to funnel individuals towards official ports of entry or areas where they can be apprehended by state authorities.
The operational focus area for these efforts spans a specific 50-mile stretch of the border within the Eagle Pass sector. This particular segment has been previously identified by state officials as a high-crossing area, presenting significant challenges for border security and enforcement. The increased personnel and material resources are intended to create a more robust physical barrier and presence along this vulnerable section.
Context: Federal Rulings and State Action
Governor Abbott’s announcement comes on the heels of recent legal developments concerning S.B. 4, a state law that would, among other things, allow state law enforcement to arrest individuals suspected of illegally crossing the border and empower state judges to order them to return to Mexico. The law has faced significant legal challenges and has been subject to conflicting federal court rulings, creating uncertainty regarding the extent of the state’s authority in immigration enforcement matters traditionally handled by the federal government.
The Governor’s statement explicitly linked the need for the Operation Lone Star expansion to these federal court decisions, implying that limitations or delays in the implementation of S.B. 4 necessitate a greater reliance on other state-level measures, such as physical barriers and increased personnel presence, to address the ongoing flow of migrants.
Operation Lone Star itself was initiated in March 2021 by Governor Abbott with the stated goals of deterring illegal immigration, apprehending individuals who cross the border unlawfully, and disrupting transnational criminal activity, such as drug smuggling and human trafficking. The operation involves the Texas Department of Public Safety and the Texas Military Department, along with other state agencies, working in concert along the border. This expansion marks one of the largest single deployments of personnel under the operation.
Ongoing State Commitment to Border Security
In his announcement, Governor Abbott reiterated Texas’s steadfast commitment to securing its border with Mexico. He emphasized that state efforts would continue independently of federal enforcement capabilities and actions. This assertion reflects the state’s position that it must take direct action to address the border situation, regardless of federal policies or resources allocated to the issue.
The state’s strategy under Operation Lone Star involves a multi-pronged approach combining law enforcement, military support, and the construction of border barriers. The surge announced today in the Eagle Pass sector aligns with this strategy, aiming to create both a physical deterrent and an increased capacity for apprehension in a particularly active crossing area.
This expansion signals Texas’s intention to maintain a high level of state-funded and state-directed border security operations. The deployment of 1,500 additional National Guard personnel and state troopers to the 50-mile high-crossing stretch near Eagle Pass, with a specific mandate to enhance concertina wire and tactical infrastructure, represents a significant escalation of Texas’s efforts to secure its border in the face of ongoing challenges and legal complexities.
