Texas Takes Aggressive Stance on Border Security, Sends Thousands of Migrants to Sanctuary Cities

As the nation awaits a new administration, Texas is forging ahead with rigorous border security measures to combat illegal immigration and the dangerous flow of drugs and weapons into the state. Governor Greg Abbott recently shared data from Operation Lone Star, the state’s extensive multi-agency effort to secure the Texas-Mexico border, working in coordination with the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) and the Texas National Guard. See the photos below of all the crazy chaos on the Texas border.

Operation Lone Star: Record Apprehensions and Seizures

Since the launch of Operation Lone Star, Texas has apprehended over 525,800 illegal immigrants and made more than 48,500 criminal arrests, leading to 41,800 felons being discovered and arrested. A key focus has been tackling the fentanyl crisis that has been devastating our communities. Texas law enforcement has seized more than 552 million lethal doses of fentanyl, enough to kill every man, woman, and child in the United States and Mexico combined.

To alleviate the hundreds of thousands of illegal alien border crossers, the state has been sending thousands of illegals and relocating these migrants to cities that have declared themselves as sanctuary cities, such as New York City, Washington, D.C., Chicago, and Los Angeles.

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Texas’ Migrant Transportation Program: Where Migrants Are Going

To alleviate the strain on Texas communities, the state has transported over:

  • 45,900 migrants to New York City since August 2022
  • 12,500 migrants to Washington, D.C. since April 2022
  • 36,900 migrants to Chicago since August 2022
  • 3,400 migrants to Philadelphia since November 2022
  • 19,200 migrants to Denver since May 2023
  • 1,500 migrants to Los Angeles since June 2023

These numbers reflect Texas’ commitment to addressing what it calls the “gaps” left by federal immigration policies, positioning itself as a frontline defense against the consequences of a porous border.

Cutting-Edge Technology in Border Security

Recently, Governor Abbott showcased the deployment of drone technology to assist in border security efforts. Texas National Guard soldiers use drones equipped with thermal imaging and GPS to support law enforcement in tracking and apprehending migrants crossing the border illegally. With these tools, Texas continues to deploy every possible measure to secure its borders, sending a message of resilience and preparedness to the rest of the world.

LOOK: At These Photos of Migrants, Drugs, and Border Patrol Operations

List of Gangs That Operate in Texas

Here is a look at some of the most common gang or criminal organizations that are known to be in the state of Texas.

Gallery Credit: Billy Jenkins

Dangerous Texas Gangs And Their Rivals

The rise of gang culture in Texas has been a steady one

The more prevalent gangs are, the more likely the average citizen is to cross paths with affiliated members. As the population of Texas has increased in size and diversity, so have the gangs of the Lone Star state.

If you're not mixed up in organized crime shenanigans, then you're probably safe. But as the old adage goes, the more you know the better prepared you are.

Gallery Credit: Sarah Clark

10 Crazy & Weird Places Drugs Were Found in Texas

Police officers & Border Patrol agents have a tough job catching drug smugglers from getting into the United States. Here are some of the craziest & wildest things they've found hidden drugs while being smuggled into Texas. Kudos to the U.S. Customs & Border Protection for documenting many of these accounts.

Gallery Credit: Daniel Paulus