On Thursday, Governor Abbott cleared the way for migrants to be returned to the border by state authorities. Abbott called the policy part of “Operation Lone Star” and said, “President Biden refuses to do his job, Tx is boosting border security efforts and returning illegal immigrants to the border.”

According to the Texas Tribune, Abbott’s order enables the Texas National Guard and Texas Department of Public Safety to apprehend “immigrants who cross the border between ports of entry or commit other violations of federal law, and to return” them to ports of entry.

A Border Patrol agent picks up three illegal aliens after Texas state troopers arrested two U.S. citizen smugglers who were transporting them to San Antonio, in Kinney County, Texas, on Oct. 20, 2021. (Charlotte Cuthbertson/The Epoch Times)

It is unclear how Texas law enforcement will determine which migrants should be transported and what state authorities would do once the migrants return to the ports of entry.

Immigration law enforcement is a federal responsibility, and federal authorities run the ports.

Many in the GOP call for Abbott to use state resources to enforce the immigration laws. In addition, Abbott has faced growing pressure within the GOP to invoke “invasion” powers under the U.S. Constitution. Some Republicans believe this would give Texas the legal ability to use the National Guard to deport migrants.
Operation Lone Star is also trying to combat criminal activity related to border crossings.

Abbott has reported that the operation is seizing record amounts of Fentanyl coming across the border.

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