Texas Leads Fight Against Growing National Fentanyl Crisis
Governor Greg Abbott, the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), and the Texas National Guard are continuing to work together to secure the border; stop the smuggling of drugs, weapons, and people into Texas; and prevent, detect, and interdict transnational criminal behavior between ports of entry.
Since the launch of Operation Lone Star, the multi-agency effort has led to over 328,000 migrant apprehensions and more than 22,100 criminal arrests, with more than 19,600 felony charges reported. In the fight against fentanyl, DPS has seized over 353 million lethal doses of fentanyl during this border mission.
Texas has also bused almost 8,400 migrants to our nation's capital since April, over 4,000 migrants to New York City since August 5, more than 1,300 migrants to Chicago since August 31, and more than 210 migrants to Philadelphia since November 15.
Operation Lone Star continues to fill the dangerous gaps left by the Biden Administration's refusal to secure the border. Every individual who is apprehended or arrested and every ounce of drugs seized would have otherwise made their way into communities across Texas and the nation due to President Biden's open border policies.
RECENT HIGHLIGHTS FROM OPERATION LONE STAR:
Governor Abbott Touts Groundbreaking Fentanyl Vaccine To Combat Opioid Crisis
On Thursday, Governor Abbott toured the University of Houston fentanyl vaccine lab to highlight the groundbreaking research that has the potential to save millions of innocent lives from fentanyl poisonings and addiction. With President Biden's open border policies inviting a flood of illegal drugs across the border, Texas continues leading the fight against deadly fentanyl.
"This incredible, groundbreaking new therapy has the potential to revolutionize how we combat fentanyl deaths in our communities and end the afflictions of addiction that burden so many innocent Texans and Americans across the country," said Governor Abbott.
During a press conference following the tour, Governor Abbott detailed the decisive actions taken by the State of Texas to combat the growing national fentanyl crisis, including designating Mexican drug cartels as a terrorist organizations, signing legislation into law that makes it a felony to make or distribute fentanyl, and launching the "One Pill Kills" campaign to raise awareness of this deadly drug across the state.
Texas National Guard Deploys Armored Personnel Carriers To Southern Border
The Texas National Guard deployed 10 M113 armored personnel carriers to the Texas-Mexico border to fight back against record-breaking illegal immigration and transnational criminal activity. The personnel carriers are being trucked to security points along the border to enhance protection amid increasing cartel-driven criminal activity. The lifting of Title 42 later this month could lead to a massive influx of illegal immigrants, allowing criminals to further exploit gaps where federal authorities are inundated with migrant processing.
Between October 1, 2021 and November 8, 2022, Texas National Guard service members experienced more than 260 suspicious or violent events, including gunfire across the border, physical assaults, drone activity, surveillance, threats of violence to the task force, and threats of violence to individuals.
Last month, Governor Abbott ordered DPS and Texas Military Department leadership to use every available strategy and tool to combat the unprecedented border crisis.
WATCH: DPS Lt. Olivarez Discusses Potential Impacts Of Ending Title 42
DPS Lt. Chris Olivarez joined Fox News to discuss the potential ramifications of ending Title 42 on future border security efforts. With the end of the policy looming later this month, DPS is expecting to see double or even triple the current numbers of illegal crossings and the continued smuggling of drugs across the border.
“With Title 42 in place, that’s really the only policy we have to sustain the situation we’re seeing on the border, but right now that’s hanging by a thread,” said Lt. Olivarez. “We’re going to have to deploy more state resources now to fill in those gaps amid the surge of illegal immigrants we’re expecting. The cartels and the criminals know now that with Title 42 gone, that’s just more money in their pockets because they’re going to take full advantage of the situation, exploit that, and profit off these illegal immigrants.”
WATCH: Fox News Reports On Human Smuggling Bust While Embedded With DPS
Fox News contributor Sara Carter joined Sean Hannity after embedding with DPS in Brooks County and witnessing a human smuggling bust. DPS and local law enforcement have been seeing an increase in human smuggling in the area, with vehicle crashes frequently reported during high-speed pursuits of smugglers.
“If there are illegal immigrants who have made it to this area, they have already bypassed the checkpoint and are trying to make it further into the interior, not just into the state of Texas but out of state,” said Lt. Olivarez. “We have to chase them through ranches, running through trees, brush, and thorns. It’s not an easy task, but it all goes back to what the state is doing and what the federal government is not doing. We’re the ones who are out here trying to make an impact and go after these criminal organizations while the federal government is ignoring the situation on the border.”
DPS Troopers Discover 52 Illegal Immigrants At A Junkyard In Webb County
As part of Operation Lone Star, DPS recovered a commercial vehicle and a Conex cargo container hiding 52 illegal immigrants. On Monday night, special agents from DPS’ Criminal Investigations Division (CID) located a semi-trailer suspected of concealing several illegal immigrants at a junkyard in Webb County. As agents approached the trailer, several illegal immigrants fled and five were apprehended.
During a search of the property, agents located dozens more illegal immigrants hidden inside a cargo container. The semi-trailer had been reported stolen by the Laredo Police Department. The illegal immigrants include 35 males, 10 females, and eight juveniles from Mexico, Guatemala, and El Salvador. All were referred to Border Patrol. CID special agents are investigating this case further.
WATCH: DPS Finds 18 Illegal Immigrants During Commercial Vehicle Inspection
DPS troopers found 18 illegal immigrants inside the cab of a semi-trailer during a commercial motor vehicle inspection on I-35 in LaSalle County. The driver, from Mississippi, was attempting to smuggle the illegal immigrants to San Antonio. He was charged with human smuggling, and all 18 illegal immigrants from Mexico were referred to Border Patrol.
DPS Seizes Over 45 Lbs. Of Cocaine During Commercial Vehicle Safety Inspection
DPS seized more than 45 pounds of cocaine after a trooper conducted a commercial motor vehicle safety inspection in Hidalgo. The trooper stopped a blue Kenworth semi-trailer on U.S. 281 for an inspection when it was determined the driver was operating the vehicle with a canceled commercial driver’s license. Further discrepancies within the vehicle were observed, and a K-9 was requested.
After a positive K-9 alert, 17 tape-wrapped packages weighing 45 pounds were discovered containing a powdery substance verified as cocaine. The 27-year-old driver from Pharr was arrested and charged with felony possession of a controlled substance and transported to the Hidalgo County Jail. The drugs have an estimated street value of more than half-a-million dollars.
WATCH: DPS Discovers Illegal Immigrants In U-Haul Van Traveling To Austin
During a traffic stop, DPS troopers discovered three illegal immigrants hidden under blankets in a U-Haul van in Kinney County. The smuggler, from Georgia, was on the way to Austin. The smuggler was charged with human smuggling, and all three illegal immigrants were referred to Border Patrol.
WATCH: Human Smuggler Leads DPS Trooper on High-Speed Vehicle Pursuit
A human smuggler led DPS troopers on a high-speed vehicle pursuit in Hidalgo County. During the pursuit, several illegal immigrants bailed out as the driver kept driving. He was eventually stopped after troopers deployed a tire deflation device. The driver was charged with human smuggling and evading arrest.