Abbott Continues Fight Against Illegal Immigration and Fentanyl

Border security continues to be a pressing issue for the United States, and Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s (R) Operation Lone Star aims to put an end to the surge in illegal immigration and the smuggling of fentanyl into the country.

In a tweet, Gov. Abbott lauded the number of illegal immigrants that have been “apprehended.” “Texas has apprehended OVER 350,000 illegal immigrants. While Biden ignores the border crisis, @TXMilitary & @TxDPS are working 24/7 to stop the illegal immigration surge. #OperationLoneStar”

Preventing the smuggling of fentanyl has been a major point of emphasis for the governor. According to his statement, the operation “has led to over 350,000 illegal immigrant apprehensions and more than 24,000 criminal arrests, with more than 22,000 felony charges reported. In the fight against fentanyl, DPS has seized over 362 million lethal doses of fentanyl during this border mission.”

These numbers reflect similar statements made by the governor during his speech at his “One Pill Kills" awareness campaign. In the speech, the governor shared the account of a woman who had lost a child due to overdosing on fentanyl. “Fentanyl poisoning has now become the leading cause of death of Americans between 18 and 45. This travesty must end. I met with Texas families who have been ripped apart by fentanyl. And, with us here tonight Is Veronica Kaprosy from San Antonio. Last year, she told me about her daughter Danica, a bright, young woman lost in her prime because she took a pill not knowing it was laced with fentanyl. The story of Danica and too many others inspired us to start the ‘One Pill Kills' awareness campaign,” stated Abbott.

Fentanyl is a legal drug in the United States. However, because of its potency, if taken improperly, it can be fatal and result in death. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that the drug is “50 to 100 times more potent than morphine.” Furthermore, the potent drug is often found in illegal markets and “is often mixed with heroin and/or cocaine as a combination product—with or without the user’s knowledge—to increase its euphoric effects.”

Overdoses from opioid use result in tens of thousands of deaths every year, and Abbott’s Operation Lone Star is the governor’s latest attempt to curb the death toll.