Texas Increases Border Security with Tactical Command Post Amid Ongoing Operation Lone Star

Austin, Texas | August 23, 2024 — Texas Governor Greg Abbott, alongside the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) and the Texas National Guard, has announced the establishment of a new Tactical Command Post aimed at enhancing border security efforts. This move is part of the ongoing Operation Lone Star, a multi-agency initiative designed to curb the smuggling of drugs, weapons, and people into Texas, as well as to thwart transnational criminal activities occurring between ports of entry.

Since its inception, Operation Lone Star has led to the apprehension of over 518,300 illegal immigrants and the arrest of more than 46,000 individuals, with over 40,000 felony charges filed. This initiative has also played a critical role in addressing the fentanyl crisis, with Texas law enforcement seizing more than 521 million lethal doses of fentanyl—enough to potentially kill the entire populations of the United States and Mexico combined.

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Migrant Relocation Efforts

As part of the broader Operation Lone Star mission, Texas has been actively transporting migrants to various cities across the United States, including:

Over 12,500 migrants to Washington, D.C. since April 2022
Over 45,900 migrants to New York City since August 2022
Over 36,900 migrants to Chicago since August 2022
Over 3,400 migrants to Philadelphia since November 2022
Over 19,200 migrants to Denver since May 2023
Over 1,500 migrants to Los Angeles since June 2023

These efforts are aimed at addressing the influx of migrants and the strain it places on border communities, while also highlighting what Texas officials describe as the federal government’s failure to secure the border.

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Ongoing Controversy

Operation Lone Star has been the subject of both praise and criticism. Supporters argue that it fills critical gaps in national security left by the Biden-Harris Administration’s border policies. Critics, however, question the ethics and legality of the migrant transport initiatives and the broader implications of state-led border enforcement.

The new Tactical Command Post is expected to further bolster Texas’ ability to respond swiftly to border security challenges, as the state continues to lead efforts in what Governor Abbott has described as a fight to protect Texas communities from the dangers associated with an unsecured border.

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