Texas Governor Greg Abbott (R) released another statement, as he continues to promote Operation Lone Star. The program looks to stop illegal immigration using a variety of governmental forces.
“Through #OperationLoneStar, the Texas National Guard and Texas DPS repel illegal immigrants attempting to cross into Texas,” tweeted Gov. Abbott.
“Texas continues to fill dangerous gaps Biden's open border policies created. We won't back down.”
Through #OperationLoneStar, the Texas National Guard and Texas DPS repel illegal immigrants attempting to cross into Texas.
Texas continues to fill dangerous gaps Biden's open border policies created.
We won't back down.https://t.co/jrSFwMtQyb
— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) May 20, 2023
"Since the launch of Operation Lone Star, the multi-agency effort has led to over 376,000 illegal immigrant apprehensions and more than 28,000 criminal arrests, with more than 25,000 felony charges reported,” reads the statement.
Gov. Abbott’s statement highlighted the program’s emphasis on stopping drug smuggling.
“In the fight against fentanyl, Texas law enforcement has seized over 416 million lethal doses of fentanyl during this border mission.”
Many conservatives opposed to illegal immigration have been proponents of bussing migrants to asylum cities, specifically cities that primarily vote Democrat.
"Texas has also bused more than 9,400 migrants to our nation's capital since April 2022, over 6,700 migrants to New York City since August 5, more than 1,900 migrants to Chicago since August 31, more than 1,000 migrants to Philadelphia since November 15, and 40 migrants to Denver on the first bus that departed this week.”
The Texas lawmaker’s statement blamed President Joe Biden (D) for the U.S.-Mexican border’s security.
“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 Joe Biden's open border policies.”
The statement concluded with Gov. Abbott thanking some of the people who worked to secure the border.
“Governor Greg Abbott today thanked Texas National Guard soldiers and DPS troopers for their selfless service at the southern border and provided an update on Texas' response to the ongoing border crisis during a press conference in Brownsville.”
The statement continued to attack Pres. Biden as well his policies.
“During the Governor’s visit to the Texas-Mexico border, he applauded the hardworking men and women of Operation Lone Star, serving as part of Texas’ unprecedented response to fill in the gaps created by President Biden’s reckless open border policies.”
The Texas lawmaker expressed his pleasure with the work done by some of the men and women who help to secure the border.
“I’m here in Brownsville today to thank the hardworking men [and] women who are defending our border for their bravery and courage,” said Governor Abbott.
"These men and women in uniform here today, they're considered to be heroes by their fellow Americans. They should be proud of what they've done. I'm proud of what they've done."
In other recent news, Texas Representative Sheila Jackson Lee (D) called for Abbott and the state legislature to pass the bipartisan Safer Communities Act.
The Texas representative stated, “I stood there today and asked for universal background checks. And I asked the state of Texas why, with the Safer Communities Act, where we had the red flag laws, it was optional. Our state has not taken advantage of it.”
