A Texas National Guardsman shot a Mexican national Saturday night at or around the international bridges that are part of the border crossing complex between Mexico’s Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua, and El Paso.
In a statement to RedState the Texas Military Department said: “On the night of 26 August, a National Guard service member assigned to Operation Lone Star discharged a weapon in a border-related incident. The incident is under investigation. More information will be made available as the investigation progresses.”
El Paso Matters reported that Darwin Jose Garcia, a Veracruz native, was shot in the right leg when he was on the Mexican bank of the Rio Grande River at or around the Bridge of the Americas.
Abbott enacts Operation Lone Star March 2021
Texas Republican Gov. Greg Abbott launched Operation Lone Star in March 2021 in response to President Joseph R. Biden Jr.’s open border policies. Then, in May 2021, the governor declared a state of emergency at the border, citing the threats, posed by the waves of illegal immigrants crushing the border, to life and property.
In his formal declaration, Abbott said the federal government used to take seriously its responsibility to enforce federal immigration laws and secure the international border. Yet, under Biden, the federal government was no longer a meaningful partner.
Since the launch of Operation Lone Star through July 21, the combined force has made more than 394,200 illegal immigrant apprehensions and executed more than 31,300 criminal arrests, which led to more than 9,100 felony charges.
The operation’s personnel, which also targets fentanyl coming into the state from Mexico, seized more than 422 million lethal doses of fentanyl.
In addition to its border mission, the operation is also tasked with transporting illegal immigrants to other parts of the country.
Beginning with the first trips to Washington in April 2022, Operation Lone Star has sent more than 10,400 illegal immigrants to the nation’s capital, more than 10,300 to New York City, more than 4,100 to Chicago, more than 2,000 to Philadelphia, more than 300 to Denver and more than 160 to Los Angeles.
DeSantis sends personnel to support Operation Lone Star
Soon after Abbott declared the Texas emergency on the border, Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis responded by sending Florida Guardsmen and law enforcement personnel to Texas and Arizona, in response to a request from the Republican Gov. Doug Ducey.
“America’s border security crisis impacts every state and every American,” he said. “Governor Ron DeSantis. “The Biden Administration ended policies implemented by President Trump that were curbing illegal immigration, securing our border, and keeping Americans safe.”
“Governors Abbott and Ducey recently sent out a call for help to every state in the nation,” DeSantis said. “I’m proud to announce today that the state of Florida is answering the call. Florida has your back.”
In June, DeSantis announced that Florida Guardsmen and other personnel had made contact with more than 5,800 illegal immigrants and assisted Texas law enforcement with nearly 200 arrests.
The governor said the arrests were for various charges, including human trafficking, drug paraphernalia, and unlawful carrying of weapons. They also apprehended a suspect with a capital murder warrant.
