On Friday, Governor Gregg Abbott announced that the state has enhanced its floating marine barrier in the Rio Grande River this week by adding more buoys. Additionally, more razor wire has been installed in Eagle Pass. These proactive measures are aimed at preventing an increase in illegal border crossings prior to President-elect Donald Trump’s return to office. This effort is also part of the continuous Operation Lone Star.
According to Governor Abbott, the state has taken action independently since the federal government has failed to secure the border and ensure the safety of Americans against criminal undocumented immigrants during President Joe Biden’s administration.
“Open border policies would have allowed every individual who is apprehended or arrested and every ounce of drugs seized to make their way into communities across Texas and the nation,” stated Abbott in a press release on Friday.
The Biden administration had previously urged Texas to dismantle the floating border wall, a construction project that commenced in June 2023, coinciding with the launch of Operation Lone Star. In July of this year, the Department of Justice filed a lawsuit seeking the wall’s removal, but the full Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in favor of allowing the barrier to remain.
Gov. Abbott claims that Operation Lone Star has resulted in a significant reduction of illegal crossings into Texas, by as much as 86%. Furthermore, the operation has led to the arrest of over 48,000 criminals and the seizure of more than 553 million lethal doses of fentanyl.
Abbott stated that if there are fewer illegal crossings into Texas, it will result in a decrease in the number of migrants being transported to sanctuary cities.
Since April 2022, more than 119,000 illegal migrants have been relocated to six different sanctuary cities in Texas.