CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Since Operation Lone Star was launched in 2021, the state has spent over $10 billion on the border initiative. Officials say that to date they have been able to stop over half a million migrants from getting through the border area.
DPS spokesman Lt. Christopher Olivarez told 3NEWS that the crackdown has nearly dried up illegal entry into the state at this time.
"We have had an 85 percent decrease in illegal border crossings in Texas since the start of January of this year," Olivarez said.
He also said there are 1,600 DPS personnel working the border along with thousands of State National Guardsmen. They have helped to stop the flow of migrants along with a number of barriers put in place.
"We have multiple barriers, physical barriers that our National Guard soldiers have placed along the river from razor wire, to fencing, to a marine barrier which is that buoy system that’s been placed in Eagle Pass, to the governor actually constructing a border wall," he said. "Over 40 miles of border wall has been constructed in Texas and we are still constructing more border wall today."
3NEWS asked about the state’s three-year mission at the border and if DPS was seeing troopers quit. Olivarez said that’s not happening and that morale is great. He said they’re actually getting more people who want to sign up.
”We’ve had people from out of state apply with DPS and go thru the academy we’ve had Border Patrol agents as well," he said. "I think what really is the issue with Border Patrol is not so much the pay I think it’s just the overall morale because the fact they have been in the situation for the last two and a half years where they have been completely demoralized because of the current border situation."
The Rio Grande Valley sector of Border Patrol reports border crossings are down 45 percent. They also report morale is just fine.
"Camaraderie is always a big thing for the Falfurrias station and RGV sector itself it’s great with unity and the community we do work a lot with the state, local and other entities were very grateful to them and we always lend a hand whenever they can help us out," Border Patrol Agent Andres Garcia said.
DPS and Border Patrol officials we spoke with pointed out that they do get along and actually work on a number of joint operations as they both want to get the job done at the border.