Staff Reports
President-elect Donald Trump is positioning himself to put a significant foot down on illegal immigration, and Texas’ “Operation Lone Star” might just serve as his playbook for mass deportations. With Trump’s newly appointed border czar, Tom Homan, rubbing elbows with Texas Governor Greg Abbott, the two seem primed to revitalize border operations and turn that dusty old play into a well-oiled deportation machine.
Operation Lone Star has been drawing attention for over three years, racking up an eye-watering $11 billion bill to develop a system to detain migrants for, get this, minor misdemeanors. All the while, tens of thousands of state troopers and National Guardsmen have been stationed in border towns in what can only be described as an audacious attempt to put the brakes on the influx of illegal crossings. Unfortunately, despite all that spending, the results have been tepid at best, with complaints about civil rights abuses piling up higher than a Texas tumbleweed.
But don’t be fooled; Operation Lone Star could ramp up in a hurry if Trump decides to bring local law enforcement and military forces into his game plan. Homan recently suggested that Texas’ border operations may well be the beacon of hope for the rest of the nation—that is, if Trump chooses to heed this advice. With state land up for grabs for the construction of deportation facilities, it seems the Lone Star State is saying, “We’re ready to help, just point us in the right direction.” Although some proposed locations for these facilities are precariously located in flood-prone areas—Texans do love their water sports.
Legally, things have been muddier than a Texas creek after a summer storm. The state’s border strategies, including strategically placed barbed wire, have faced serious pushback in the form of civil rights lawsuits. Of course, with Trump in the Oval Office instead of sleepy Joe, more aggressive immigration tactics might glide through the legal system with a lot less friction and a lot more momentum. The anticipation is palpable among frustrated Texans waiting with bated breath for Trump to make good on his long-promised mass deportation agenda.
Trump can build on Texas’s ‘Operation Lone Star’ to execute deportation plan https://t.co/4TDx9OgKA8
— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) December 3, 2024
Then there’s the military aspect, where Trump’s affinity for leveraging National Guard troops isn’t just a talking point; it’s a reality. If history is any indication, the National Guard could see its role at the border shift from a temporary solution to a full-on permanent deployment. Trump’s supporters have been buzzing about the possibility of declaring a national emergency to facilitate military participation in deportations, which could make the Left clutch their pearls while the Right cheers from the sidelines.
Lastly, there’s money on the table. Texas may have already begun the trend by providing grants for communities facing border-related emergencies, but it’s not hard to envision Trump following suit with something similar at the federal level. Declaring illegal immigration a national emergency might just be the catalyst for a swift and decisive mass deportation initiative—something Texan citizens have been clamoring for in the face of spiraling illegal immigration rates. The clock is ticking, and if Texas has its way, America might just get the border security overhaul it has desperately needed.
