Congress is considering a reimbursement plan that could deliver nearly $800 million to Texas for border enforcement costs, marking a possible federal nod to Governor Greg Abbott’s multibillion-dollar Operation Lone Star. Though the amount represents only a fraction of the $11 billion the state says it has spent on border security during the Biden administration, it would still be the largest federal reimbursement of its kind to date, as reported by the Houston Chronicle.
The funds are part of a broader Republican-led spending package in the U.S. House that includes tax provisions backed by former President Donald Trump. While the reimbursement option is available to all border states, Texas stands out for making border enforcement a central policy under Gov. Greg Abbott, whose efforts have included busing migrants north, deploying the National Guard, installing razor wire along the Rio Grande, and building sections of a state-funded border wall after federal construction stopped in 2021, actions praised by supporters but criticized as politically driven by opponents.
Operation Lone Star Unpacked
Despite Abbott’s sweeping claims, data released from 2022 reveals a murkier picture:
- Trespassing Arrests: Abbott touted thousands, but only about 2,900 have occurred—mostly in two rural counties. Many were dismissed or legally challenged.
- Gang Member Arrests: Officials claimed over 700 arrests but offered no evidence or tracking of gang affiliations.
- Haitian Migrant Surge: Abbott credited OLS with stopping migration in Del Rio, though state agencies made no arrests and federal/Mexican actions were decisive.
- Fentanyl Seizures: Of the 887 pounds claimed, only 160 came from Operation Lone Star counties—most seizures would’ve occurred regardless.
- Apprehension Data: Abbott cited a 46% drop in one region, but apprehensions across Texas remain historically high.
- Cost: The operation costs around $2.5 million per week and $2 billion per year, mainly for National Guard deployment.
The program has also targeted U.S. citizens and legal residents for crimes unrelated to border enforcement. After media scrutiny, the Texas Department of Public Safety removed more than 2,000 unrelated charges, some violent, from its official tally.
“It’s time to pay Texas back,” said U.S. Rep. Dan Crenshaw, a Houston Republican, who introduced a bill earlier this year seeking full reimbursement of the state’s $11 billion border security tab. Though he acknowledged that the $800 million is well short of that goal, Crenshaw said negotiations are ongoing, with more movement expected in the Senate this summer.
Despite the possible $800 million reimbursement, Texas is ramping up its own border efforts, with the state House approving an additional $6.5 billion for expanded operations—even as unauthorized crossings have plunged 95% since last March, with just 7,000 apprehensions reported nationwide in that month. Governor Abbott, calling the reimbursement a “real estate transaction,” has suggested the federal government take over state-built infrastructure, but with House and Senate negotiations still underway, it’s unclear how much funding will ultimately pass or if this signals a broader federal shift toward supporting state-led immigration enforcement.
