Texas is actively expanding its razor wire barriers and constructing its own wall along its border with Mexico as part of Governor Greg Abbott’s border security mission, known as Operation Lone Star.
The Texas National Guard has significantly increased the installation of razor wire barriers along the Texas-Mexico border. Over the past year, soldiers have been diligently expanding these barriers in strategic locations that are frequently used for illegal border crossings on state land.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced that the state is taking proactive measures to address the issue of illegal immigration by tripling the razor wire barriers along the border. In a statement, Abbott expressed his concern over the lack of action from President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, stating that they have turned a blind eye to the border crisis. He emphasized Texas’ commitment to deploying every available tool and strategy to prevent illegal crossings into the state.
In response to social media posts regarding the installation of barriers outside the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, the governor addressed the issue by stating, “Democrats are in favor of having walls to safeguard their own convention. However, they oppose the idea of having walls to protect Americans from the significant influx of over 11 million illegal immigrants, including criminals and terrorists.”
“Kamala is creating an onslaught. What a bunch of hypocrites.”
In recent days, Texas has been actively increasing the construction of the border wall, with the latest addition of additional panels in Zapata and Val Verde counties.
According to Governor Abbott, Texas has made history by becoming the first and only state in the United States to construct its own border wall. He emphasizes that Texas is committed to taking significant measures to safeguard the people of Texas and all Americans.
According to the governor, by taking this action, Texas is not only asserting its right to protect its border, but also safeguarding the sovereignty of the nation.
In June 2021, Texas Governor Abbott made an announcement that Texas would take matters into its own hands and construct its own border wall. This decision was prompted by the overwhelming influx of illegal border crossers that began flooding south Texas communities. The situation escalated after President Joe Biden halted border wall construction and reversed several existing border policies on his first day in office. As a result, record numbers, reaching thousands per day, started pouring through the border.
Texas and Missouri filed lawsuits in October 2021, asserting that it was unlawful to cease border wall construction, as Congress had allocated funds for it. Additionally, they argued that halting construction was causing taxpayers to incur daily expenses of $3 million due to contractual obligations. Texas had previously sued the administration seven times regarding border and immigration matters. Since then, Texas has initiated over 75 lawsuits against the administration, addressing various concerns.
In a significant victory for Texas, the federal court ruled in May that the suspension of federal border wall construction was unlawful, approximately two and a half years after its initiation. Surprisingly, the administration chose not to appeal the decision, thereby granting Texas a substantial triumph.
Ongoing litigation between the Biden-Harris administration and Texas regarding border barriers continues.
In October of last year, Texas took legal action against the Border Patrol agents who had cut the concertina wire barriers that Texas had installed on state land in Eagle Pass. Texas claimed that these actions amounted to the destruction of state property and were aiding illegal immigration. Despite facing several court rulings, Texas has continued to construct its razor wire barriers. The case is still pending a final ruling.
Two more lawsuits have been filed regarding the marine barriers that Abbott ordered to be installed in the Rio Grande River in Eagle Pass. Texas has received additional support for its border security efforts, with 25 governors sending law enforcement resources to the Texas border on rotation.
Since its launch in March 2021, the Operation Lone Star (OLS) initiative by Abbott has led to the apprehension of over 517,900 individuals who illegally crossed the border. Additionally, law enforcement officers have made more than 46,000 criminal arrests, resulting in over 39,900 felony charges. In a significant accomplishment, they have also seized a staggering amount of fentanyl, totaling over 518 million lethal doses. This quantity is potent enough to cause harm to the combined populations of both the United States and Mexico.
The Texas legislature has allocated a staggering amount of over $11.6 billion to fund OLS over a span of four years. This budget is even larger than the budgets of many states, as reported by The Center Square. Despite this significant investment, a bill filed by a Texas congressman to request reimbursement of OLS costs from Congress has unfortunately made no progress.
According to The Center Square, Texas’ efforts have yielded positive results by shifting illegal entry towards New Mexico, Arizona, and California.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott remains determined to secure the state’s border, regardless of whether or not the federal government provides reimbursement. Abbott’s commitment to border security is backed by 25 other governors and is also supported by the majority of Texans and Americans, as indicated by various polls.
According to a report by The Center Square, numerous polls consistently reveal that voters strongly disapprove of the border policies implemented by the Biden-Harris administration. Additionally, these polls indicate that voters are opposed to illegal immigration and are in favor of deploying troops to secure the border.
