Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) troopers continue their efforts to apprehend human smugglers and rescue unaccompanied minors along the southern border as part of Governor Greg Abbott’s border security operation, Operation Lone Star (OLS). Recent arrests have primarily involved male Mexican nationals illegally entering the U.S. through human smuggling.
One notable incident occurred on Highway 83 in Hidalgo County when DPS troopers pursued a smuggler driving through a commercial area. By using a tactical maneuver to force the vehicle to stop, troopers arrested the driver for both smuggling and evading arrest. They also apprehended five Mexican nationals, who were later referred to Border Patrol.
Another significant arrest took place after a TikTok video surfaced, showing a Mexican smuggler, or “coyote,” guiding foreign nationals across the Rio Grande River and arranging for a pickup in Texas. Using this social media clue, law enforcement tracked down and arrested the smuggler, with DPS Lt. Chris Olivarez commenting on the power of such digital evidence in aiding investigations.
Farther west, in Webb County, DPS troopers intercepted a commercial truck on Interstate 35 at night. Inside the vehicle, they discovered two Mexican nationals hiding in the gas tank. The driver admitted to smuggling the individuals and was arrested on two counts of human smuggling. The two nationals were handed over to Border Patrol.
In the Mission area, a DPS brush team, aided by a K-9 unit, chased a group of illegal crossers for nearly three miles. These individuals, referred to as “gotaways,” had entered the U.S. illegally between designated entry points and are often linked to criminal activities, including cartel operations.
In another case, near Sullivan City, DPS troopers arrested a Mexican national suspected of smuggling after a short pursuit. Six illegal crossers, each wearing colored wristbands, were found inside the country. The wristbands indicated they had paid cartel members for smuggling services across the border.
In Eagle Pass, troopers stopped a group of 114 illegal border crossers, including 13 unaccompanied minors, ages 7 to 16, from Honduras, Guatemala, and Nicaragua. All were referred to Border Patrol.
Since the launch of Operation Lone Star in 2021, DPS officers have rescued over 900 unaccompanied children, setting a new state record. With the federal government relocating many of these minors to Texas for sponsorship or to government-contracted facilities, advocacy groups have called on the state legislature to increase oversight of such facilities.
Sheena Rodriguez, the founder of Alliance for a Safe Texas, has been particularly vocal in urging legislative action and an investigation into these facilities, similar to efforts in Florida.
Operation Lone Star has led to over 525,800 illegal border crossings being thwarted, more than 48,500 criminal arrests, and over 41,800 felony charges. Additionally, DPS has seized enough fentanyl to potentially kill the entire populations of the U.S. and Mexico.
Due to efforts like these, illegal border crossings between ports of entry in Texas have decreased by more than 51% in the past year, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection data.
