The latest statistics, which were released Monday and are current as of January 4, show 107,241 arrests in Texas border patrol sectors. Apprehensions are creeping back up after a slight drop in October.
The Lone Star State saw a 6 percent increase in family unit apprehensions overall, but there was a 15 percent drop in the number of unaccompanied minors taken into custody. In the El Paso sector, there was a 159 percent increase in family unit arrests.
In Texas, approximately 27 percent of those arrested were Mexican, 18 percent were Honduran, 15 percent were Guatemalan, nine percent were Salvadoran, and 30 percent were of some other nationality.
By way of a mission titled Operation Lone Star, the state has responded to illegal immigration by deploying thousands of National Guardsmen and other law enforcement personnel from across Texas to enforce state laws and assist border guards.
One of those officers is Galveston County Constables Jimmy Fullen (R-Precinct 2).
Fullen told The Texan during a ride-along in Kinney County last month that he and other officers entered into memoranda of understanding to provide backup to Sheriff Brad Coe. The sheriff has only seven deputies in a county of 1,359 square miles.
“This border problem is such a drain on our economy,” Fullen said, pointing to costs such as medical care and transportation to hospitals.
The constable emphasized the tens of thousands of dollars human smugglers take as they transport illegal aliens to and from stash houses.
“I mean you make one run and you just made an entire year’s salary,” Fullen said.
Fullen highlighted the “boldness” of those who are unlawfully entering the country. He described one illegal alien whose legs were severed by a train as he tried to flee onto a moving railcar.
Republican members of Congress are calling the Biden administration’s response into question.
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) and numerous Republican members of Congress signed a letter last week calling for a “comprehensive investigation” by U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Inspector General Joseph Cuffari.
“Multiple sources have confirmed to Congress that the Biden Administration was warned by career professionals that the rapid implementation of several border and immigration policies would lead to a predictable surge at the border,” the letter read.
“Our concern is that the Biden Administration proceeded to implement these policies despite the harm they would cause to our border and immigration system. Moreover, the Biden Administration did not take adequate steps to prepare for the resulting surge and as a result, a humanitarian crisis has developed.”
Among those who signed the letter were Reps. Louie Gohmert (R-TX-01), Dan Crenshaw (R-TX-02), Michael McCaul (R-TX-10), August Pfluger (R-TX-11), Ronny Jackson (R-TX-13), Randy Weber (R-TX-14), Tony Gonzales (R-TX-23), Roger Williams (R-TX-25), John Carter (R-TX-31), and Brian Babin (R-TX-36).
Meanwhile, Democratic state lawmakers asked the federal government this week to shut down Operation Lone Star in a letter to DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland.
A copy of the letter to Cuffari can be found below.
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Hayden Sparks
Hayden Sparks is a senior reporter for The Texan and a lifelong resident of the Lone Star State. He has coached competitive speech and debate and has been involved in politics since a young age. One of Hayden's favorite quotes is by Sam Houston: "Texas has yet to learn submission to any oppression, come from what source it may."
