Governor Greg Abbott, the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), and the Texas National Guard are intensifying efforts to enhance border security in El Paso. The collaborative work will add more resources to address illegal activities like drug and human smuggling across the Texas border.

The Texas National Guard deployed approximately 200 soldiers to support existing ground forces in El Paso, as part of the effort.  The Guard is also reinforcing border barriers and intensifying efforts to deter illegal crossings.

Since the launch of Operation Lone Star, the DPS has reported over 506,500 illegal immigrant apprehensions and more than 41,200 criminal arrests, with over 36,700 felony charges. Texas law enforcement has seized over 471 million lethal doses of fentanyl during border operations.

Governor Abbott recently met with U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson to advocate for border security legislation.

In a public statement, Governor Abbott compared the situation in Texas to situations in New Mexico and California, which are also experiencing increased illegal immigration.

DPS Lieutenant Chris Olivarez defended Texas' right to secure the border.