Texas Troopers catch 370k illegal immigrants at border.

Texas Troopers Apprehend 370,000 Illegal Immigrants in Border Mission

State troopers deployed to the Mexico border have made a significant impact in apprehending illegal immigrants who would have otherwise disappeared into the interior of the United States. Under Governor Greg Abbott’s two-year-old Operation Lone Star initiative, Texas Department of Public Safety officers and statewide partners have interdicted hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants across more than 100 counties since Spring 2021.

A Pivotal Role in History

Governor Abbott praised the Texas Department of Public Safety for their pivotal role in history during a speech at a DPS graduation ceremony in Austin. He highlighted the department’s achievement in arresting more than 27,000 criminals, apprehending more than 370,000 people who came into the country illegally, and seizing enough fentanyl to kill every man, woman, and child in the entire United States of America.

Troopers were responsible for seizing enough fentanyl to contain potentially 383 million lethal doses, more than the U.S. population of 333 million people. Fentanyl seized by state troopers slipped past federal law enforcement at the ports of entry.

Last week in Austin, Abbott said troopers who were sent into the capital city over concerns about an increase in violent crime in some areas had seized 500,000 doses of fentanyl. “Had they not seized that half a million doses … those drugs [would be on the] streets, costing people in Austin and Texas their lives,” Abbott said. “You’re literally saving lives.”

Not Without Controversy

While Governor Abbott’s multibillion-dollar investment at the border has been successful, not all Texans have backed the initiative. In late April, a coalition of grassroots conservatives rallied outside the Texas Capitol and called on Abbott to do even more, saying he had not gone far enough and ought legally to declare an “invasion” at the border. Members from the Border Network for Human Rights, La Union del Pueblo Entero, Reform Immigration for Texas Alliance, ARISE Adelante, and the American Civil Liberties Union called for the state legislature to provide driver’s licenses for illegal immigrants and an end to Operation Lone Star.

Operation Lone Star: A Legendary Position in Texas History

Governor Abbott praised the Texas Department of Public Safety for their legendary position in Texas history, but in this moment in time, they are playing a more pivotal role than ever before. Troopers will continue to head south to counties affected by the border crisis, seizing illegal drugs and apprehending those who enter the country illegally. Their efforts have saved countless lives and made a significant impact in securing the border.

• 370,000 illegal immigrants apprehended
• 27,000 criminals arrested
• Enough fentanyl seized to kill every man, woman, and child in the entire United States of America
• 500,000 doses of fentanyl seized in Austin alone