According to Lieutenant Chris Olivarez, a spokesperson for the DPS-South Texas, a total of 204 undocumented migrants were discovered by troopers. Among them were 57 unaccompanied children aged 8 to 17. Interestingly, these children were found carrying pieces of paper that contained addresses in various states across the U.S.
Illegal migration and border security have become prominent topics in the lead-up to the highly anticipated 2024 presidential election, scheduled for November 5. Recent polls indicate that when it comes to immigration policy, the majority of Americans place more trust in former president Donald Trump than Vice President Kamala Harris.
In a recent incident, authorities in Texas discovered a significant number of undocumented immigrants in Maverick County on October 14. This group consisted of 23 unaccompanied children and 22 special interest immigrants from Egypt and Turkey.
Maverick County sits in South Texas, right on the U.S.-Mexico border, directly opposite the city of Piedras Negras.
According to Statista, this chart illustrates the number of migrant encounters at the U.S.-Mexico border per fiscal year. It includes individuals who are attempting to enter the country, those who are turned away at the border, and those who are apprehended while trying to cross the border without inspection.
On October 11, a group of 165 illegal immigrants was discovered by troopers in Quemado, located just outside of Eagle Pass. Among the group were 14 special interest immigrants hailing from Iran, Egypt, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Additionally, there were 29 unaccompanied children found.
The DPS troopers actively participate in Operation Lone Star, an initiative led by Texas Governor Greg Abbott. This operation aims to address the issues of undocumented immigration, as well as the trafficking of drugs and humans.
In 2021, when the operation was launched, a press release announced the integration of the DPS with the Texas National Guard, with the aim of combating the smuggling of people and drugs into Texas.
Operation Lone Star, which was launched in 2021, has successfully led to the apprehension of more than 521,100 undocumented immigrants and over 47,400 criminal arrests. These arrests include a staggering number of over 41,000 felony charges. The multi-agency initiative has proven to be highly effective in addressing and tackling the issues surrounding illegal immigration and criminal activities.
According to the office of Abbott, Texas has successfully reduced illegal crossings into the state by more than 86%.