How is Operation Lone Star working along the Texas/Mexico border?
El Paso, Texas — Texas Governor Greg Abbott contends the billions he's spending on his border security initiative, Operation Lone Star, is making a difference. But a recent investigation provides a different perspective.
Texas lawmakers have approved more than $3 billion through next year for Operation Lone Star, which has put more state troopers and national guard troops along the border.
Gov. Abbott's office says since he launched the operation a year ago, multi-agency efforts have led to more than 225,000 migrant apprehensions, nearly 11,000 felony charges and the seizure of over 3,600 weapons.
But a joint investigation released last month by 3 non profit news groups, including the Texas Tribune, found the state’s claim of success has been based on shifting metrics that have included crimes with no connection to the border, along with work conducted by state troopers stationed in the targeted counties prior to when the operation began.
Their investigation also found that arrests related to Operation Lone Star have happened far from the Texas/Mexico border in cities like Midland.
Gov. Abbott hasn't said much about what his enhanced truck inspections that backed up traffic at the border last week have accomplished, but they drew sharp criticism from a Trump-endorsed Texas Republican.
State Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller wrote an open letter to the governor, which stated, in part, "Your inspection protocol is not stopping illegal immigration. It is stopping food from getting to grocery store shelves and in many cases causing food to rot in trucks."