Texas officials have seized more than 422 million lethal doses of fentanyl since the launch of the state’s Operation Lone Star program in March 2021, governor Greg Abbott announced on Friday.
“Operation Lone Star continues to fill the dangerous gaps created by the Biden Administration’s refusal to secure the border,” Abbott’s office said. “Every individual who is apprehended or arrested and every ounce of drugs seized would have otherwise made their way into communities across Texas and the nation due to President Joe Biden’s open border policies.”
Abbott said in a statement that the program has also led to 394,200 illegal-immigrant apprehensions and 31,300 criminal arrests.
Under the program, Texas has bused more than 10,400 migrants to Washington, D.C., more than 10,300 migrants to New York City, more than 4,100 migrants to Chicago and more than 2,000 migrants to Philadelphia. The program has also sent a small number of migrants to Denver and Los Angeles.
The state has also erected floating barriers along the Rio Grande to deter illegal border crossings.
The Department of Justice claimed in a letter to Abbott on Friday that the barrier violates several federal laws. The DOJ gave state officials three days to either enter negotiations or to remove the buoys, lest the state face legal action.
Abbott defended the state’s actions in a series of tweets.
Texas has the sovereign authority to defend our border, under the U.S. Constitution and the Texas Constitution.
We have sent the Biden Administration numerous letters detailing our authority, including the one I hand-delivered to President Biden earlier this year.
— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) July 21, 2023
“Texas has the sovereign authority to defend our border, under the U.S. Constitution and the Texas Constitution,” he wrote. “We have sent the Biden Administration numerous letters detailing our authority, including the one I hand-delivered to President Biden earlier this year.”
“We will continue to deploy every strategy to protect Texas and Americans — and the migrants risking their lives,” the governor said. “We will see you in court, Mr. President.”
Abbott’s update comes as New York City, which claims to be a sanctuary city for migrants, began distributing fliers at the southern border this week warning “there is no guarantee we will be able to provide shelter and services to new arrivals.”
NYC Mayor Eric Adams said Wednesday there is “no more room in the city” as more than 55,000 migrants are under the city’s care.