Crackdown on Illegal Immigration and Tren de Aragua Gang Activity

Texas Cracks Down on Illegal Immigration and Tren de Aragua Gang Activity

Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced that the state's efforts to combat illegal immigration and the activities of the Tren de Aragua (TdA) migrant gang have yielded significant results. According to Abbott's office, Operation Lonestar, a multi-state initiative launched in March 2021, has led to a 90% reduction in illegal crossings and nearly 50,000 criminal arrests.

Operation Lonestar has seen the participation of over a dozen Republican states and has resulted in the apprehension of over 530,000 illegal immigrants and the arrest of over 49,900 individuals, with more than 42,900 facing felony charges. Additionally, Texas has become the first state to independently construct a border wall, continuing construction at strategic points despite President Biden's halt to the project.

Governor Abbott emphasized the state's commitment to protecting its citizens from the growing threat of the TdA gang. He designated the group as a foreign terrorist organization and launched a strike team to target and arrest its members. Texas law enforcement has also seized over 620 million lethal doses of fentanyl, enough to kill every person in the United States, Mexico, and Canada combined.

Operation Lonestar has also involved the transportation of over 119,400 migrants to sanctuary cities across the country. The initiative has cost Texas over $11 billion, which has been used to deploy National Guard soldiers and DPS troopers, transport migrants, install barriers, combat gangs like TdA, and build new border wall segments.

As a result of these efforts, Texas has witnessed an 87% decrease in illegal crossings. Governor Abbott expressed his commitment to continue working with President Trump and his incoming administration to protect Texas and the nation from the challenges posed by illegal immigration and criminal organizations.