Joe Biden’s interference in Texas, specificially in Eagle Pass, is having a costly impact on the area, with increasing border crossings and criminal activity, leaving Texas to protect their state from violence and criminal activity.
Recently US Customs in Eagle Pass announced the seizure of weapns and ammo in an “outbound enforcement action” which refers to the activities and operations carried out by border security agencies to monitor and control the movement of goods, individuals, and vehicles leaving a country.
These actions aim to prevent the illegal export of contraband, such as weapons, drugs, currency, and other prohibited items. Outbound enforcement ensures that all exports comply with national and international laws and regulations.
Operation Lone Star (OLS), launched by Texas Governor Greg Abbott in March 2021, represents a significant state-level initiative aimed at bolstering border security in response to the Biden administration’s rollback of immigration policies instituted during the Trump era.
Eagale Pass Texas has been identified as the fastest growing border crossings in the US:
With a budget surpassing $11 billion, OLS includes the deployment of state law enforcement and National Guard troops, the installation of buoys and razor wire along the Rio Grande, and the construction of a “steel wall” using shipping containers.
Central to the controversy surrounding OLS is its impact on Eagle Pass, Texas, particularly the restricted access to Shelby Park and the friction with federal Border Patrol operations. The Biden administration has criticized these measures, labeling them as “inhumane and obstructive.” Legal disputes have arisen over Texas’ installation of buoys in the Rio Grande and the authority granted by Senate Bill 4, which permits state officers to arrest and deport migrants. According to USA Today, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has called for the termination of OLS, citing issues such as “racial profiling and unconstitutional policing” .
The program has led to significant outcomes, including the apprehension of numerous illegals, numerous criminal arrests, and substantial seizures of fentanyl.
The areas has also seen numerous injuries among Illegals, hospitalizations, and several deaths among National Guard soldiers deployed under the initiative. Despite the controversies, Governor Abbott’s office claims that OLS has successfully “filled gaps in Biden’s border policy” by apprehending over 511,300 illegal immigrants, making more than 42,900 criminal arrests, and seizing over 481 million lethal doses of fentanyl .
Eagle Pass has seen a dramatic increase in migrant crossings, particularly from countries like Cuba, Venezuela, Colombia, and Haiti. Before the pandemic, the town experienced relatively few crossings.
The Biden administration sued Texas over the installation of buoys without approval from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Additionally, the federal government is challenging Senate Bill 4, which empowers state and local law enforcement officers to arrest and deport people without federal oversight. Meanwhile, the ACLU has sued Texas counties and officials on behalf of migrants who were detained even after their trespassing charges were dropped or their sentences served .
In response to the growing border security concerns of his, Biden recently authorized the construction of a new border crossing facility near Eagle Pass, named the Puerto Verde Global Trade Bridge. This facility aims to enhance vehicular and pedestrian traffic between the U.S. and Mexico, promoting trade and connectivity in the region. Maverick County, which received the permit, must comply with federal laws, mitigate environmental impacts, and secure additional approvals before construction can begin .
The Eagle Pass Port of Entry has also been identified as a hotbed of criminal activity by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). A recent enforcement action at the port resulted in the seizure of four weapons, seven magazines, and 700 rounds of ammunition. According to Port Director Pete Beattie, this action “illustrates CBP’s ongoing commitment to our priority border security mission and helping to keep our border communities safe” .
CBP officers seize four weapons, seven magazines, 700 rounds at Eagle Pass Port of Entry in outbound enforcement action
Release Date
Tue, 06/11/2024
EAGLE PASS, Texas—U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Field Operations officers assigned to Eagle Pass Port of Entry seized four weapons, seven magazines, 700 rounds of ammunition in a single outbound enforcement action.
“This outbound enforcement action illustrates CBP’s ongoing commitment to our priority border security mission and helping to keep our border communities safe,” said Port Director Pete Beattie, Eagle Pass Port of Entry.
The seizure occurred on June 10, at Camino Real International Bridge when CBP officers conducting outbound examinations referred a southbound 2013 Dodge Ram 2500 hauling a trailer for secondary inspection. Upon further examination, including non-intrusive inspection systems, CBP officers discovered four weapons, seven magazines, 700 rounds of various calibers hidden within the plastic tote.
CBP seized the weapons, magazines and ammunition. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) special agents initiated a criminal investigation into the seizure.
Follow the Director of CBP’s Laredo Field Office on Twitter at @DFOLaredo and also U.S. Customs and Border Protection at @CBPSouthTexas for breaking news, current events, human interest stories and photos.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is America’s frontline: the nation’s largest law enforcement organization and the world’s first unified border management agency. The 65,000+ men and women of CBP protect America on the ground, in the air, and on the seas. We facilitate safe, lawful travel and trade and ensure our country’s economic prosperity. We enhance the nation’s security through innovation, intelligence, collaboration, and trust.
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References
- Rick Jervis, Carlie Procell, and Stephen J. Beard, “Operation Lone Star explained: What’s happening in Eagle Pass, Texas?” USA TODAY, June 10, 2024.
- Joe Edwards, “Biden Authorizes New Eagle Pass Crossing,” The Dallas Express, June 10, 2024.
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection, “CBP officers seize four weapons, seven magazines, 700 rounds at Eagle Pass Port of Entry in outbound enforcement action,” June 10, 2024.