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June 17, 2022 | Austin, Texas | Press Release

Governor Greg Abbott, the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), and the Texas National Guard are continuing to work together to secure the border, stop the smuggling of drugs, weapons, and people into Texas, and prevent, detect, and interdict transnational criminal behavior between ports of entry.

Since the launch of Operation Lone Star, the multi-agency effort has led to more than 263,900 migrant apprehensions and more than 16,240 criminal arrests, with more than 13,500 felony charges reported. More than 5,400 weapons and over $41.5 million in currency have been seized.

Operation Lone Star continues to fill the dangerous gaps left by the Biden Administration's refusal to secure the border. 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 Biden's open border policies.

RECENT HIGHLIGHTS FROM OPERATION LONE STAR:

READ: Migrant Caravan Runs Face-First Into Texas Governor Greg Abbott

When Mexico last week granted federal humanitarian travel permits to 15,000 U.S.-bound third-country migrants whodformed the largest caravanin Mexican history, most planned to head straight to the border to cross illegally into the Texas towns of Del Rio and Eagle Pass, writes Todd Bensman with the Center for Immigration Studies. Few, if any, of those thousands are finding their way over the Rio Grande into the Border Patrols Del Rio Sector. Mexican state police areblocking northbound commercial busesat the bus station in the Coahuila state capital of Saltillo, and at many other stations, and emptying migrants from trucks and vans at checkpoints on all roads leading into that states border cities of Piedras Negras, across from Eagle Pass, and Acuna, across from Del Rio, according toMexican press reporting.

The Mexican state police response comes after Governor Abbott reminded Coahuila Governor Miguel Angel Solis of his security obligations under the memorandum of understanding the governors signed in April.

WATCH: National Guard, DPS Perform Mass-Migration Exercise Along Texas-Mexico Border

Texas Army National Guard soldiers and DPS state troopers rehearsed mass-migration response capabilities on Saturday, June 11. The soldiers and state troopers are able to rapidly respond to incidents of mass migration at any point along the Texas-Mexico border.

WATCH: Texas National Guard Soldiers Establish Command-And-Control Post To Prepare For Mass Migrations

Last Saturday, a command-and-control post was established by the Texas National Guard at the Anzalduas International Bridge in preparation for a mass-migration response. The post will allow effective coordination of partner agencies on the ground by directing joint and multi-agency operations during a mass-migration event.

So long as there is a threat that exists here, our job is to remain proficient, competent, capable, and ready to respond, day or night, said MAJ Jason Cordaway, Task Force East Commanding Officer.

WATCH: Fox News Exclusive On Crisis In Eagle Pass

DPS Lieutenant Christopher Olivarez gives a border tour to Fox News Rachel Campos-Duffy to shed light on the ongoing crisis along the Texas-Mexico border. Campos-Duffy and Lt. Olivarez view groups of migrants along the Rio Grande in a helicopter tour, followed by interviews with interdicted migrants.

Texas National Guard Seize Transnationally Trafficked Narcotics

Texas Army National Guard soldiers assisted law enforcement in seizing transnationally trafficked narcotics. The guardsmen detected a group of men illegally crossing the Texas-Mexico border and interdicted the group, who dropped the packages of narcotics and fled the scene. The narcotics were seized by law enforcement as the men returned to the Mexico side of the border.

VIDEO: High-Speed Pursuit Through Multiple Counties Leads To Arrest Of Smuggler

DPS engaged in a high-speed pursuit of a smuggler through several counties. The smuggler eventually came to a stop and was charged with the smuggling of persons and evading arrest.

Criminal Trespassers Apprehended By National Guard Soldiers, DPS On Privately Owned Ranch

Texas Army National Guard soldiers assisted DPS state troopers in apprehending a group of illegal migrants last week. The illegal migrants were spotted by federal agencies, which called the soldiers and state troopers to track the group within a large stretch of privately owned ranch land. The Guard notes it is common for illegal migrants to avoid detection by border patrol agents by trespassing into ranch lands on foot.

VIDEO: DPS Troopers Traffic Stop Results In Arrest Of Driver For Smuggling Illegal Migrants

A traffic stop by DPS troopers on a passenger car resulted in the arrest of the driver for the smuggling of persons. All of the illegal migrants were referred to the U.S. Border Patrol.

Read more:
Operation Lone Star Ramps Up Mass Migration Response Efforts In Preparation For Caravans - Office of the Texas Governor

The ninth Summit of the Americas, hosted by the Joe Biden in Los Angeles from June 6 to 10, was overshadowed by US presidents decision not to invite the presidents of Venezuela, Cuba and Nicaragua. The reason given for this was antidemocratic leadership and disrespect for human rights in those countries. But you might question this exclusion if you believe that the main democratic principles include freedom of association, speech and inclusiveness.

In his remarks at the opening plenary of the summit, Biden emphasised on various occasions the importance of working together and collaboration between the North, Central and South America when tackling regional issues, such as economic, climate and migration crises, among others. But the decision to exclude the three countries led several other leaders to boycott the event in solidarity. Mexican president Andrs Manuel Lpez Obrador (AMLO), as well as the presidents of El Salvador (Nayib Bukele), Honduras (Xiomara Castro), and Guatemala (Alejandro Giammattei), also skipped the event.

Mexico is an interesting case. After a rocky start, AMLO managed to build a friendly relationship with Donald Trump during his time in the White House. But he hasnt struck up such an easy relationship with Biden. This might seem counter-intuitive when you consider that while Trump had a zero-tolerance migration policy, Biden is looking to introduce a more humane immigration system.

AMLOs respect for Trump was reflected by Latino voters in the 2020 presidential election in which he won the border state of Texas and in Florida, the US states with the high population of Latinos, predominantly Mexican-American and Cuban and Venezuelan-American, respectively.

Biden used the summit to launch a new economic partnership plan, Americas Partnership for Economic Prosperity. This, he said, would aim to grow economies from the bottom up: developing innovation, strengthening supply chains and aiming to prioritise the growth of the green economy, with jobs in producing clean energy and protecting biodiversity.

Biden also announced his plans to combat corruption in the region and promote the rule of law, forging a partnership with Latin American countries to fight the powerful transnational criminal organisations, drug traffickers and the illegal weapons trade. Cooperation would also aim to improve healthcare provision across the region and increase food production. The idea, in a nutshell, is to improve the quality of life and security in Latin America to the extent that illegal migration to America would fall as people enjoy better conditions in their own countries.

At face value, so far, so positive. But the director of the Center for the United States and Mexico at Rice University in Texas, Tony Payan, thinks the plans outlined at the summit have little chance of having the desired impact, especially when it comes to migration. He believes the western hemisphere is too politically divided and chaotic to make any real progress in these areas. Payan told me: For now, no matter how well intentioned the declarations may be, their words will fade away with little to no accomplishments.

On the other hand, the president of the Migration Policy Institute, Andrew Selee, believes that a declaration signed by 20 nations at the end of the summit, the Los Angeles Declaration on Migration and Protection marks a significant step forward in creating a common language and a coherent set of ideas for more cooperatively managing migration movements across the Americas.

The goal of The Los Angeles Declaration is to control and regularise an unauthorised migration through the American continent by shared responsibility among all countries. It suggests some concrete metrics as targets for the programme. For example, the US will invest US$314 million (260 million) of humanitarian help for vulnerable refugees and migrants. In addition the US has pledged to accept a further 20,000 refugees in the next two years. An additional US$65 million will be used to promote temporary work among Haitian and Central American temporary workers.

The Los Angeles Declaration not only talks about possible solutions to migration to the US, but also between Latin American countries. Mexico, whose secretary of foreign affairs Marcelo Ebrard attended, has pledged to include 20,000 refugees from Central America and Haiti in its labour market. By the end of August 2022, Colombia will assign regularisation permits to 1.5 million of refugees and migrants from Venezuela.

But the declaration also has its limitations. The executive director of the pro-migrant foundation Amrica Sin Muros (America Without Walls), Bernardo Mndez-Lugo, told me he thinks US money and increased working visas will simply not be enough for millions of needy migrants who take the illegal road towards a better life. He also pointed out that the agreement doesnt specify how the US will legalise the status of the 5 million irregular Mexican migrants or the 2 million irregular migrants from Central American countries already in the US. Nothing has been settled to resolve the status of the 600,000 dreamers the children of illegal migrants who have grown up in the US or the hundreds of thousands of Guatemalans, Hondurans and Salvadorans with temporary protected status in the US.

So while the declaration is no doubt a stepping stone to solving the migration crisis in the Americas, the commitment will need to be followed up with concrete actions from the whole region. It will bear fruit only if all countries are united. And, of course, the absence of significant players in this issue from the summit is not a good sign that the Americas are on the same page when it comes to solving the irregular migration crisis.

The rest is here:
Summit of the Americas: Biden's attempt to unite the region on migration gets off to a shaky start - The Conversation

Angry protests aren't something you'd associate with the pretty North Yorkshire village of Linton-on-Ouse - until now.

Residents are frustrated and furious with the Home Office's announcement that the former RAF base there will soon become an asylum reception centre for up to 1,500 people.

Representatives from the Home Office came to the village this week to attend a parish council meeting, and face questions from the residents.

They were greeted with boos, and chants of "wrong plan, wrong place", the phrase that has become the campaign slogan for those opposed to the scheme.

The village has a population of between six and seven hundred, with just four buses a day passing through it.

The RAF base has been here since 1937.

Originally home to part of Bomber Command, it became a training centre for all the RAF's fast-jet pilots, including Prince William.

But in 2014 the base began to be wound down, as training was moved to RAF Valley in Anglesey.

Then in 2020 it closed altogether, with the MoD originally planning to sell the site in 2023.

But Home Secretary Priti Patel had other plans and last month it was announced that it was to become the temporary home of hundreds of asylum seekers.

They will be processed there before being moved on, potentially to Rwanda under controversial plans.

During the, at times, rowdy meeting in the village hall the Home Office representatives told villagers they wanted to "hear their concerns" and "work with them for the best outcome".

The villagers were less than impressed, having suffered what they described as the "bombshell" of finding out about the plans via the media.

"Don't treat us like idiots," said one.

"We don't want to work with you, we want this stopped," said another.

The local district council, Hambleton, says it is exploring the possibility of a legal challenge to the Home Office decision, and so are several individuals.

Local Conservative MP Kevin Hollinrake, is also bitterly opposed to the plan.

He raised the issue in prime minister's questions earlier in the week.

"What I was trying to do is keep the matter in the parliamentary eyeline," he explained.

"To make sure the people who are responsible for this decision - which does include the prime minister - think about what they're doing because this is catastrophic."

'Lots of us are working class people who happen to live in a rural area'

Dr Olga Matthias, the daughter of an immigrant father who fled the former Yugoslavia after the war, is one of those leading the protest campaign.

"It's not about nimbyism," she said.

"It's about a totally inappropriate plan being forced on a tiny village.

"A plan that Priti Patel has now made sure isn't going to happen in her own constituency."

"We're not privileged middle class people moaning about property prices," said another protestor.

"Lots of us here are working class people who happen to live in a rural area."

Another tells me they are concerned about the impact on the local community, and that the government should look to protect its own citizens before worrying about others.

Centre will help end taxpayer funded 'reliance on expensive hotels'

A Home Office spokesperson said: "The asylum reception centre at Linton-on-Ouse will help end our reliance on expensive hotels which are costing the taxpayer almost 5m a day.

"We are engaging with local stakeholders about the use of the site.

"The New Plan for Immigration will fix this broken asylum system, allowing us to support those in genuine need while preventing abuse of the system and deterring illegal entry to the UK."

A number of charities that work with refugees and asylum seekers also oppose the plans.

Mary Brandon, from the group Asylum Matters, says: "We know accommodation centres like these are extremely harmful for the people who are placed in them.

"They are destructive to people's mental health, they end up very isolated and feeling like they are stuck in limbo and separated from the rest of society."

Another charity, Ripon City of Sanctuary, also works to support refugees.

Now they are also providing advice to the Linton Action campaign group, which may result in further legal challenges.

Critics of the scheme maintain that nobody seems to want it, other than the Home Office.

Unless the government can be convinced, or made to backtrack, the first tranche of asylum seekers will arrive in Linton-on-Ouse by the end of this month.

Read this article:
Migrant crisis: Linton-on-Ouse residents' fury at Home Office asylum centre branding it the 'wrong plan, wrong place' - Sky News

Vernica Martnez| La Verdad

Federal judge blocks lifting of expulsion policy Title 42

A federal judge in Louisiana blocked the lifting of expulsion policy Title 42. Thousands of people will continue to wait to seek asylum in the U.S.

Anthony Jackson, El Paso Times

Lea la versin en espaolaqu.

The decision of a federal judge that forced the United States to continue the immediate expulsion of migrants under Title 42placed Ciudad Jurez on the cusp of a new humanitarian crisis, due to the daily increase in the migrant population on this border.

The flow of more than 100 expelled per day from U.S. territoryunder Title 42 and the growing arrival of migrants waiting to cross the border has the shelters close to being saturated. Hundreds of other migrants are in spaces that they rent on their own in hotels or homes, while others live in houses in abandoned conditions.

I think that now it is going to be necessary for the government and government agencies to give an answer (soon) because for the moment we are somewhat overwhelmed, said Rosa Mani, coordinator of the Somos Uno por Jurez shelter network, made up of 15 of the 23 humanitarian shelter spaces that operate in the city, mainly by civil and religious organizations.

Immigration: Jurez again becomes a waiting room for migrants who hope to seek asylum in the United States

Mexican authorities addressed the migration issue Friday morning during the meeting of the Coordination Table for the Construction of Peace, which is made up of representatives of the federal, state and local governments. They discussed strategies for a new spike in migration due to the possible suspension of Title 42, which the U.S. government had planned for Monday. That plan was blocked hours later by a U.S. federal judge from Louisiana.

Even with the continuation of Title 42, officials are concerned the massive concentration of migrants in this community will continue to increase due to the expulsion of people from the north and those who continue to arrive from the south.

Migrants stranded in the city are beginning to despair and seek to cross the border. This motivated nearly 300 people from Haiti to gather Friday in front of the Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe in the downtown area, to go to the Office of Human Mobility of the Diocese of Ciudad Jurez in search of information on Title 42.

They are afraid that many people are staying here without being heard. The cathedral has been their home in many ways and they come to ask for help to see if we can register them (to cross), but we thats not in our capacity, said Cristina Coronado, the coordinator of the diocese office that provides humanitarian assistance as distribution of pantries, clothing and orientation for people who have just arrived.

We came here because we know there is an organization that can help us cross into the United States. We dont want to cross into the United States illegally, said Flix, a migrant from Haiti who was waiting to be seen by the human mobility office.

Gerta, a Haitian woman, said it was the first time she went to the migrant assistance office despite having been in Ciudad Jurez for several weeks.

I came looking for help to see if there are people to help enter (the United States) because I dont want deportation. I have too much time doing this for them to push us back, she said.

Many of the people who showed up at the cathedral have been in Ciudad Jurez for several weeks, and some even months, Coronado said. They came to the office driven by rumors of possible exceptions to Title 42 that have been granted and through which some migrants have been able to cross into the United States.

Title 42 is a public health law that the Trump administration invoked in March 2020, arguing that it was necessary to expel migrants at the border to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The Biden administration continued the policy, but announced last month that it would end Title 42 on May 23. The Louisiana judge on Friday ordered the government to continue enforcing Title 42.

This order prevents migrants from submitting humanitarian asylum applications because when they cross the border they are immediately expelled by immigration authorities.

In the busy and noisy kitchen of the Solus Christus shelter, Pastor Rodolfo Barraza receives a phone call while chatting with the newly arrived migrants. The person on the other end of the line asks if the shelter can take in his three daughters.

Look, you speak to me at the right time. I would have told you that there is no more space but today they just confirmed that tomorrow just three people will leave, Barraza told the caller. I would only need to know when they would arrive and I would ask you to come soon to reserve the place for them.

The shelter has been at capacity for almost two weeks with a flow that goes in and out, Barraza said, explaining that new people arrive daily looking for accommodation. At the same time, the reception space has been relieved with the departure of people who manage to cross through with exceptions to Title 42.

Borderland: El Paso officials trying to avert humanitarian crisis after migrants dropped Downtown

The Solus Christus shelter hasnt been this full since 2019, Barraza said. With 50 bunks, Barraza says they always try to keep the shelter at 90 percent capacity in case they have to accommodate a group of people who arrive unexpectedly.

I dont know if this repeal of Title 42 prompted people to come, Barraza said. But here at the door of the shelter, I get tired of telling people that the border is not open.

The migratory flow comes both from the south, with people from Central American countries and from the Mexican states of Guerrero and Michoacn, as well as from the north with people who have been returned to Mexico from the United States under various immigration policies.

More: Non-profit shelter network reaching capacity, director urges local and federal government to open hospitality sites

This arrival of migrants comes up against limited spaces in shelters and with organizations overwhelmed by the current demand for humanitarian attention.

Giving attention to different populations and with different capacities, most of the shelters report that they are already close to being saturated, said Rosa Mani, from the Somos Uno por Jurez shelter network.

Mani explained that accepting people in shelters goes beyond having space and bunks to sleep, but also includes food and health resources to provide decent accommodation and care.

The Office of Human Mobility of the Catholic Diocese of Ciudad Jurez has also seen a significant increase in the demand for services for people who have just arrived at the border. On average, they are receiving about 10 families a day in addition to the attention they give to between 40 and 50 families who have already been in Ciudad Jurez for months.

The new arrivals seek accommodation and food, including the delivery of breast milk, diapers and clothing.

Despite the fact that much is up in the air regarding immigration policy, Coronado said the diocese will continue to provide humanitarian assistance, orientation, and clothing and food to the population on the move, especially to the Haitian population, which continues to arrive in large numbers.

Before (May) 23 we were all trying to prepare because if (Title 42) is lifted, we didnt know exactly what the answer would be, Coronado said. What I know is that there is a very high flow. There are a lot of people arriving, there are a lot of people.

Even though U.S. Customs and Border Protection has emphasized that the public health order is still in force, humanitarian groups in Ciudad Jurez have reported the departure of migrants who managed to enter the United States with exceptions to the public health order.

In accordance with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines, (the Department of Homeland Security continues to approve exceptions to Title 42 on a case-by-case basis for particularly vulnerable individuals of all nationalities for humanitarian reasons, CBP officials said in a statement.

Enrique Valenzuea, the coordinator of the State Population Council (COESPO), said CBP has granted Title 42 exceptions to about 30 people per day over the past week, saying the priority has been given to exceptional cases.

Neither U.S. or Mexican authorities elaborated on the criteria for exceptions to Title 42.

Title 42 has been widely criticized by human rights advocates for violating international refugee law. Since its implementation in March 2020, CBP has reported nearly 1.8 million encounters with migrants that have resulted in removals under Title 42.

It is difficult to determine the total number of people expelled to Mexico under this order since many of the expulsions involve people who attempted multiple crossings. CBP estimates that 28 percent of their encounters with migrants have involved people who had already attempted to cross at least once.

More: Judge rules Title 42, allowing COVID asylum restrictions, can continue at border

More: El Paso COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations rising; fluctuations expected in summer 2022

In the El Paso sector, a total of 14,875 encounters were reported in the month of April that resulted in expulsions under the Title 42 public health law, and 14,963 under Title 8, the U.S. immigration enforcement law.

The immigration policy continues to return hundreds of people daily, leaving thousands of people stranded in Ciudad Jurez. This brought challenges for civil society and humanitarian groups in Ciudad Jurez, said Blanca Navarrete, director of Integral Human Rights in Action.

The future of Title 42 has caused uncertainty among migrants who continue to arrive at the northern border, and among the network of shelters, local and international civil organizations, and government agencies that provide care to people in mobility.

I think many people are going to be desperately looking everywhere hoping to be given a chance to enter, Coronado said of the consequences that could occur in the city in the coming days in terms of immigration.

Valenzuela mentioned that even with the expected termination of Title 42, this did not imply that the United States would allow entry to all kinds of people who wanted to apply for asylum. With the suspension of the order being blocked, immediate expulsions will continue to take place at this border.

It is necessary for anyone who is yet to make the trip or is already on the move to wait for official information. Dont be fooled by traffickers and wait for the best time to make the trip or approach the border, Valenzuela said.

This story was produced as part of the Puente News Collaborative, a binational partnership of news organizations in Ciudad Jurez and El Paso.

More here:
With extension of Title 42, Jurez faces a new immigration crisis - El Paso Times

May 20, 2022 | Austin, Texas | Press Release

Governor Greg Abbott today activatedthe Joint Border Security Operations Center (JBSOC) and directed the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), Texas Military Department (TMD), and Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) to coordinate Texas response to secure the borderin preparation for President Biden's reckless decision to end Title 42 expulsions on Monday, May 23.

The JBSOC is activated to its highest alert level as the Biden Administration has estimated that the end of Title 42 expulsions will lead to up to 18,000 illegal crossings per day from Mexico into the United States.

"Texas will not stand by as President Biden puts our state and our nation in danger by ending Title 42 expulsions and allowing dangerous criminals, illegal weapons, and deadly drugs like fentanyl to flow unabated into the United States, and exacerbating the humanitarian crisis at our southern border," said Governor Abbott. "We continue taking unprecedented action to secure the border, ramping up every available strategy and resource in response to President Biden's ongoing border crisis. The Joint Border Security Operations Center will play an integral rolein our state's robust response toprovide the border security strategy Texans and Americans deserve."

The JBSOC, located at DPS headquarters in Austin, will serve as the state's multi-agency command and coordination center for statewide border security intelligence and operations to include tactical, marine, air, and ground. It will also coordinate the deployment of strategic barriers along the Texas-Mexico border, including razor wire.

Live feeds from Texas National Guard and DPS aircraft, UAVs, and detection cameras will provide around-the-clock situational awareness.The JBSOC will have direct contact with law enforcement and local leaders along the Texas-Mexico border.

Pursuant to thedisaster declarationissued last year and his authority to respond to disasters under state law, Governor Abbott directed the following state agencies to report to the JBSOC:

Texas Department of Public Safety

Texas Military Department

Texas Division of Emergency Management

Texas Department of Transportation

Texas Facilities Commission (TFC)

Texas Commission on Law Enforcement

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD)

Texas Commission on Jail Standards

Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ)

Texas Health and Human Services Commission

Texas Fire Marshals Office

Texas Attorney Generals Office

Texas Indigent Defense Commission

Border Prosecution Unit

Office of Court Administration

Governor Abbott has taken significant action to secure the border in the wake of the federal governments inaction. Those actions include:

Read more on additional actions taken by the Governor to secure the border through Operation Lone Star.

See the rest here:
Governor Abbott Activates Joint Border Security Operations Center In Preparation For Mass Migrant Influx As Biden Ends Title 42 Expulsions - Office of...