Operation Lone Star

Texas Democrat Rep. Decries Abbott’s Use of ‘Razor Wire’ at Border — Same Used by Biden’s Ports of Entry

U.S. Representative Joaquin Castro (D-TX) told CNN Newsroom’s Jim Acosta he believes Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s use of razor wire and a floating border buoy system is “barbaric and inhumane.” Castro did not comment on the Biden administration’s use of the same wire to repel asylum seekers at ports of entry along the southwest border. At the ports, the wire is deployed atop gates and along temporary barriers used to close the ports when migrants rush the port without an appointment.

Razor Wire Used by CBP and Texas. (File Photos: Getty Images)

2nd Migrant Busted near Border with Child Porn in Two Days, Say Texas Cops

Texas Department of Public Safety troopers interdicted a human smuggling attempt near Bracketville and found a migrant with child pornography on his cell phone. This is the second bust in as many days of migrants illegally in the United States being busted by Texas troopers with child porn on their cell phones.

Dagoberto Corea Mende arrested for alleged possession of child porn. (Texas Department of Public Safety)

Texas Troopers Spot Armed Migrant Smuggler near Floating Buoy Barrier

A Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) drone operator spotted what appears to be an armed migrant smuggler guiding a group of migrants into the United States. The incident occurred in downtown Eagle Pass upstream of a floating buoy barrier that was put in place to prevent or divert migrant crossings. The footage captured by the drone operator shows the migrant smuggler carrying what the agency describes as a long gun as he guides a group of eleven migrants across the Rio Grande on Thursday.

A DPS drone operator spotted an armed smuggler guiding migrants across the Rio Grande near Eagle Pass. (Texas Department of Public Safety)

Exclusive: Border Patrol Records 125 Migrant Deaths in July

An ongoing heatwave impacting much of the nation and the swift-moving currents of the Rio Grande proved deadly for migrants attempting to enter the United States during the month of July. According to a source within Customs and Border Protection, 125 migrants perished attempting to cross the U.S. southwest border in July.

Tucson Sector agents rescue four migrants suffering heat-related illness near the Arizona border with Mexico. (U.S. Border Patrol/Tucson Sector)

Texas Border Town Rescinds Agreement Allowing Trespass Arrests of Migrants

The Eagle Pass City Council voted unanimously to rescind an agreement with the State of Texas designating a public park as private property under the control of the Department of Public Safety. The designation allowed Texas law enforcement authorities to post “Private Property” signs within the park and facilitated the prosecution of migrants for criminal trespass. 

Texas police arrest a group of migrants in Shelby Park, Eagle Pass. (Randy Clark/Breitbart Texas)

EXCLUSIVE: Texas Says State’s Border Security Op Effectively Moving Migrant Crossings to Other States

The Texas governor’s office says Operation Lone Star successfully moves migrant border crossings to other states, including the northern U.S. border with Canada. A recent U.S. Customs and Border Protection report indicates a decrease in migrant apprehensions in Texas-based border sectors and a simultaneous increase in the Tucson, Miami, and Canadian border sectors.

A migrant group marches through the desert in Arizona. (U.S Border Patrol/Tucson Sector)

WATCH: Texas Deploys Multi-Layer Border Strategy to Deter, Turnback Migrants at Border

Under Operation Lone Star, the Texas Department of Public Safety and National Guard Units deployed a multi-layer strategy to deter and turn back migrants attempting to cross the border from Mexico. That strategy includes the construction of physical barriers like border walls, fencing., razor wire, and rail containers, in addition to deploying tactical response units and marine operators.

Texas deploys a multi-layer border security strategy to deter and turn back border crossers. (Photos: State of Texas)

Exclusive Photos: Demonstrators Protest Texas Border Buoy Project

A group of open border advocates staged a protest on Friday near one of the busiest border crossing areas along the Rio Grande. About two dozen protesters chanted and unfurled signs critical of Abbott’s latest border buoy project on the day materials for the barrier project arrived in Eagle Pass, Texas.  One group member carried a large sign that read, “Hey Governor, shove those Buoys up your AbButt.”

Protesters gather along the Rio Grande in Eagle Pass, Texas, to demonstrate against Abbott's floating border barrier. (Randy Clark/Breitbart Texas)

Watch: Texas Police Marine Unit Arrests Suspected Migrant Smuggler in Rio Grande

Texas Highway Patrol troopers are using innovative techniques to reduce the migrant flow at one of the busiest border crossing spots in the nation. In addition to plans to construct a floating border barrier in the area, the agency is using drones and its Tactical Marine Unit (TMU) to arrest migrant smugglers in mid-river in the Rio Grande. On Tuesday, the unit surprised one suspected smuggler who was caught unaware of the airboat’s swift approach.

A Texas DPS Tactical Marine Unit arrests an alleged human smuggler in the Rio Grande near Eagle Pass, Texas. (Texas Department of Public Safety)

Pursuit of Alleged Human Smuggler Ends in Roll-Over Crash near Border in Texas

A suspected migrant smuggler led Texas Department of Public Safety troopers and Kinney County Sheriff’s Office deputies on a high-speed pursuit that began near the small community of Brackettville, Texas. A trooper first spotted the suspect’s vehicle late Sunday night on a rural Farm-to-Market Road leading away from the border region. The pursuit ended when the suspected smuggler’s vehicle left the roadway and rolled several times, causing damage to a private ranch gate.

Police pursuit in South Texas ends in a roll-over crash. (Kinney County Sheriff's Office)

Texas Troopers Bust Alleged Human Smuggler on Border River

Texas Department of Public Safety Tactical Marine Unit troopers arrested a Mexican national for allegedly smuggling migrants across the Rio Grande near Eagle Pass. The Texas troopers teamed up with Florida Fish and Wildlife game wardens deployed to the border region under Operation Lone Star.

Texas DPS troopers and Florida game wardens teamed up to arrest an alleged Mexican national on human smuggling charges near Eagle Pass. (Texas Department of Public Safety Video Screenshot)

Watch: Suspected Migrant Smuggler Leads Texas Cops on 115 MPH Pursuit Near Border

A suspected migrant smuggler led Texas Department of Public Safety Highway Patrol troopers on a high-speed pursuit that began on June 13 in the small community of Brackettville, Texas. When troopers attempted to stop the suspicious vehicle within the incorporated area of the city, the driver allegedly chose to flee. The vehicle left the city limits on a rural farm-to-market road and reportedly reached speeds in excess of 115 miles per hour.

An alleged human smuggler looses control of vehicle during 115 mph pursuit in Kinney County. (Texas Department of Public Safety)

Four States Send Troops, Cops to Support Texas Border Mission

Governors of four states deployed police and military forces to support Governor Greg Abbott’s Operation Lone Star border security mission. Last week Governor Abbott greeted state police troopers and National Guard soldiers from Florida, Idaho, Tennessee, and Nebraska.

National Guardsman stands post at the Texas border with Mexico. (File Photo: John Moore/Getty Images)

Exclusive Photos: Physical Barriers No Match for Surrendering Migrants at Texas Border Town

Authorities on both sides of the border could not prevent the entry of a steady stream of asylum-seeking migrants hoping to surrender to the Border Patrol. Despite the placement of Conex containers, concertina razor wire, and a more significant border wall constructed by the State of Texas, the migrants stubbornly moved around or crossed over the impediments. As Breitbart Texas looked on, more than one hundred migrants breached the barriers earlier this week.

A group of migrants walk around the end of the Texas-built border wall to surrender to law enforcement. (Randy Clark/Breitbart Texas)

Exclusive Photos: Mexican Law Enforcement’s Show of Force Along Texas Border as Title 42 End Nears

Multiple local, state, and federal law enforcement entities in Mexico posted along the banks of the Rio Grande in Piedras Negras, Coahuila, in a show of force as the end of the Title 42 COVID-19 expulsion authority nears. At daybreak on Wednesday, Breitbart Texas observed the Mexican police exercise that brought migrant crossings to a complete, albeit temporary, shutdown just across the border from Eagle Pass.

Mexican military, police, and immigration authorities gather on the south bank of the Rio Grande as the end of Title 42 nears. (Randy Clark/Breitbart Texas)

Texas Military Deploys Additional Troops to Border Ahead of Title 42 End

Texas Governor Greg Abbott ordered the deployment of an additional 545 National Guardsmen to assist in the newest surge of migrants crossing the border from Mexico. The deployment under the state’s Operation Lone Star comes days ahead of the expected May 11 end of the Title 42 migrant expulsion program.

Texas military officials deploy an additional 545 National Guardsmen to the border ahead of the end of Title 42. (Texas Military Department)