Gov. Greg Abbott’s office has released an update on the state’s efforts to secure the southern border through its Operation Lone Star initiative, announcing a dramatic increase in the deployment of razor wire.
Texas has tripled its razor-wire border barriers and will continue to use them, Abbott said in a press release.
The presser linked to a post on the social media platform X in which Abbott claimed that the “hundreds of miles of razor wire border barrier has helped decrease illegal immigration by about 85%.”
“Now, we are expanding that razor wire barricade even further,” he added.
In contrast, other border states, such as Arizona and California, have seen an increase in illegal crossings, according to Abbott.
As previously reported by The Dallas Express, in 2023, the Texas National Guard started installing concertina wire along parts of the Texas-New Mexico border to prevent illegal aliens from entering El Paso through New Mexico. The installation took place place near Sunland Park, New Mexico, which borders the city.
The governor’s office emphasized that Operation Lone Star was critical to “fill the dangerous gaps created by the Biden-Harris administration’s refusal to secure the border.”
Abbott also highlighted other accomplishments by Operation Lone Star. The multi-agency effort has resulted in the apprehension of over 517,900 individuals entering the country illegally. Additionally, more than 46,000 criminal arrests have been made, including over 39,900 felony charges.
In its battle against drug trafficking, particularly fentanyl, Texas law enforcement has seized a staggering 518 million doses of the potent opioid, according to the press release.
This surge in border control operations comes amid a broader strategy that includes relocating thousands of illegal aliens to sanctuary cities in other parts of the country.
The press release states that since the relocation program began in April 2022, Texas has transported more than 119,400 illegal aliens to other cities, such as Washington D.C., New York City, Chicago, Philadelphia, Denver, and Los Angeles.