In-Depth: What’s Really Happening at the Texas Border?

In 2021, Governor Greg Abbott initiated Operation Lone Star, a comprehensive effort employing the Texas National Guard and the Texas Department of Public Safety to enhance border security. The operation’s objectives include identifying and deterring illegal border crossings, apprehending human smugglers and cartel members, and preventing the influx of dangerous substances like fentanyl into the United States. However, these efforts have been challenged by the Federal Government, resulting in a legal dispute between the State of Texas and the Federal Government.

Operation Lone Star is a collaborative endeavor with communities affected by the border crisis, aiming to arrest and detain individuals entering Texas unlawfully. The state funds this historic border security initiative through appropriations from the Texas Legislature, as well as contributions from Texans and Americans. Donations are allocated towards constructing a border wall, transporting migrants to designated cities, and supporting the endeavors of the Texas National Guard and the Department of Public Safety.

As of December 8, 2023, the funding status for Operation Lone Star includes $460,196 for Border Transportation, $55,427,025 for Border Wall, and $102,689 for Border Security.

Under the leadership of Governor Abbott, the Texas Department of Public Safety continues to deploy various assets, such as air, ground, marine, and tactical resources, along the border to combat people and drug smuggling into the state.

Key facts about Operation Lone Star as of November 10, 2023, indicate over 488,500 illegal immigrant apprehensions, more than 37,300 criminal arrests, and the seizure of over 450 million lethal doses of fentanyl. Fentanyl, a potent opioid, has become a significant public health concern, leading to a dramatic increase in related fatalities, particularly affecting Americans between the ages of 18 and 45.

The state’s efforts also extend to transporting migrants to cities outside Texas, with significant numbers sent to Washington, D.C., New York City, Chicago, Philadelphia, Denver, and Los Angeles since 2022. All of these cities are “sanctuary cities” claiming to be safe havens for undocumented immigrants. New York is suing bus companies for $700 million for transporting immigrants from Texas, and some schools in New York were forced to temporarily shift to remote learning while immigrants were housed in the schools during a winter storm.

Operation Lone Star has been positioned as a response to what Texas officials view as the Biden Administration’s inadequate border security measures. Despite achievements in stemming the flow of illegal substances and individuals, challenges persist, particularly with the smuggling of fentanyl from Mexico. The drug, often disguised as other substances, has led to a surge in fatalities and poses a significant public health threat.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has taken legal action against the federal government, alleging destruction of Texas’s concertina wire barriers by federal agents. Paxton asserts that these actions not only damage state property but also compromise Texas’s ability to deter illegal entry. Despite legal challenges, Texas remains committed to defending its border security measures, as the case proceeds through the courts.

The Supreme Court’s recent decision permitting the continued destruction of Texas’s concertina wire barriers by the Biden Administration has added another layer to this ongoing legal battle. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton expresses disappointment but vows to continue defending the state’s sovereignty.

Contrary to what other news reports may have led readers to believe, the Supreme Court’s ruling is not in fact a final decision, but merely vacates an injunction which prohibited the destruction of the barriers. The case itself is still being heard in the Fifth Circuit Federal Court. The Federal government could be once again prohibited from destroying the barriers, should the State of Texas prevail in its current legal battle.

As Texas navigates this complex legal terrain, the implications of these decisions could have broader consequences for national immigration policies. The Office of the Attorney General is set to argue the case in front of the Fifth Circuit on February 7, 2024, as the state continues to grapple with the multifaceted challenges posed by border security and immigration.

Article by multiple RFHC contributors.