DALLAS – It seems that Arizona and California are now the primary locations for illegal border crossings.
Under Operation Lone Star, the number of border encounters in Texas, including Eagle Pass, has decreased, according to the head of Texas DPS. However, maintaining personnel and equipment comes with a hefty price tag.
Since March 2021, Texas has experienced a significant 74% reduction in illegal crossings thanks to the implementation of Operation Lone Star.
Backlash is still ongoing after reports surfaced that DPS troopers were instructed to force migrants back into the Rio Grande.
Colonel Steve McCraw, who testified before the state senate committee on border security on Tuesday, stated that this is the case.
Taxpayers have spent a whopping $11 billion on Operation Lone Star so far. The majority of this colossal amount has gone towards deploying numerous DPS troopers and Texas National Guard soldiers along the southern border.
In January 2023, the Texas National Guard initiated its drone program, which now boasts of 32 teams consisting of 74 pilots that monitor the southern border. This initiative is expected to result in significant cost reductions for future operations.
In Eagle Pass, Texas on December 20th, a group of immigrants can be seen waiting to be processed at a U.S. Border Patrol transit center after crossing the border from Mexico. The photograph, captured by John Moore of Getty Images, captures a moment in time that highlights the ongoing issue of immigration at the U.S.-Mexico border.
Major General Thomas Suelzer suggested a more efficient approach to border control, proposing a smaller group of troops stationed along the border with the aid of drones and cameras. With this strategy, the troops can quickly respond to any alerts sent by the surveillance equipment.
According to Laura Collins, an expert in immigration policy, it is difficult to determine the exact factors that are causing a significant decline in border crossings at the Texas-Mexico border, which is leading to a shift in migration towards the west.
“It’s a complex issue,” she explained. “Individuals arriving at the border have their own motives for migrating to California. In Texas, a considerable number of them resort to hiring smugglers.”
The authorities have apprehended seven individuals suspected of being involved in smuggling. According to the sheriff, the incident was linked to the cartel and the smugglers were condemned for treating human beings like commodities.
President Joe Biden took action last week by signing an executive order that has the objective of discouraging border crossings through the implementation of stricter asylum restrictions.
According to a senior administration official who spoke to FOX 4, there has been a significant increase in the number of immigrants being returned to Mexico. As many as 20 repatriation flights have been carried out to seven different countries, and the expedited processing capacity has increased to accommodate 2,000 migrants, up from the previous 900 per day.
According to Collins, many policy experts, including herself, are eager to witness the implementation of the executive order. However, she emphasizes that it is important to understand that a single executive order cannot completely alter the situation at the border.
The Mexican government’s cooperation is also a crucial factor to consider. With a new president recently elected, it’s uncertain how their relationship with the US and the incumbent president will pan out by November 5th.