Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) troopers, who are currently supporting Operation Lone Star in Texas, encountered a gathering of 211 undocumented migrants in Maverick County, located in South Texas, on Sunday. Among the individuals, there were 60 unaccompanied children.
According to a post by DPS Lt. Chris Olivarez on X, a young girl, who appeared to be around 2 years old, waved a yellow piece of paper with a phone number on it when speaking to troopers.
“Are you by yourself? How old are you, mommy?” a trooper asked the young girl in Spanish.
She raised two fingers and stated that she was “dos.” When asked about her destination, she mentioned her mother and father. The trooper inquired about their whereabouts, to which she responded, “en los Estados Unidos (in the United States).”
Olivarez posted on X. expressed concern about the safety and security of unaccompanied children who are exposed to dangerous criminal trafficking networks. He emphasized the need for action, regardless of political views, as the number of missing children continues to rise. Olivarez acknowledged the crucial role of the individuals on the frontlines, who work tirelessly to protect these vulnerable children.
According to his statement, it is a harsh reality that numerous children fall victim to exploitation and trafficking, with their voices silenced forever.
According to Olivarez, the Department of Public Safety (DPS) has been instrumental in rescuing more than 900 children since the launch of Operation Lone Star in 2021.
Operation Lone Star, initiated by Republican Governor Greg Abbott, is a state-funded border security initiative that has allocated more than $11 billion towards the deployment of technology, resources, and personnel along the Texas/Mexico border.
More than $1 million has been allocated for the installation of a 1,000-foot-long buoy in the Rio Grande in Eagle Pass, located in Maverick County. The primary objective behind this initiative is to deter undocumented migrants from crossing the river into Piedras Negras, Mexico.
Last week, Abbott made an announcement regarding the construction of a new buoy in Eagle Pass. This buoy will be situated closer to Shelby Park, which is a common area for the staging of forces by the Texas DPS and National Guard troops.
On Monday, Governor Abbott extended the border security disaster proclamation that he initially issued on May 31, 2021.
According to the proclamation, the surge of individuals crossing the Texas-Mexico border illegally is a constant and immediate threat to numerous Texas counties and all state agencies impacted by this situation.
The disaster declaration encompasses a total of 64 counties, namely Aransas, Atascosa, Bee, Brewster, Brooks, Caldwell, Calhoun, Cameron, Chambers, Coleman, Colorado, Crane, Crockett, Culberson, DeWitt, Dimmit, Duval, Edwards, El Paso, Frio, Galveston, Goliad, Gonzales, Hidalgo, Hudspeth, Jackson, Jeff Davis, Jim Hogg, Jim Wells, Kenedy, Kerr, Kimble, Kinney, Kleberg, La Salle, Lavaca, Live Oak, Mason, Maverick, McCulloch, McMullen, Medina, Menard, Midland, Pecos, Presidio, Real, Refugio, San Jacinto, San Patricio, Schleicher, Shackelford, Sutton, Terrell, Throckmorton, Uvalde, Val Verde, Victoria, Webb, Wharton, Wilbarger, Wilson, Zapata, and Zavala.
On Tuesday, Abbott intends to pay a visit to Maverick County and extend his support to Hidalgo County. In Hidalgo County, he will join in serving Thanksgiving meals to the National Guard troops stationed on the border.
On Tuesday, Texas General Land Office Commissioner Dawn Buckingham has scheduled a visit to the South Texas border in Starr County. The purpose of her visit is to showcase the construction of a new 1.4-mile segment of the state border wall, which is a significant part of Operation Lone Star.
The state has purchased a 1,400-acre ranch, which has also been offered to President-elect Donald Trump’s incoming administration for the purpose of detentions and deportations.
