House Democrats Calling on the Administration to Intervene in Operation Lone Star
Contact: Alexis Torres
WASHINGTON — Today, Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-Austin) and Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-San Antonio), together with many colleagues, including the entire Texas Democratic delegation and the chairs of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, Congressional Black Caucus, and Congressional Asian-Pacific American Caucus, urged the Biden administration to assert its authority over federal immigration policy and foreign relations to investigate Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s Operation Lone Star border operation and pursue legal action to stop the extraordinary cruelty against migrants detailed in recent reports from the San Antonio Express-News, the Houston Chronicle, and the New York Times.
A series of recent reports have detailed how troops working for Operation Lone Star have been ordered to push migrant children and nursing babies back into the Rio Grande, install floating barriers and netting that increase the risk of drowning for migrants who attempt to cross the river, and obstruct federal immigration enforcement by deliberately failing to alert federal authorities to the arrival of migrant groups who may claim asylum.
“For years, Governor Abbott’s policies have merely involved the waste of millions of tax dollars to advance his political interests while promoting anti-immigrant hysteria,” said Rep. Doggett. “But Operation Lone Star endangers lives and interferes with the work of the U.S. Border Patrol while refusing to repudiate the tactics he has encouraged at the border—a true stain on our Nation’s history.”
In the letter, members write: “We ask that you immediately intervene to stop Governor Greg Abbott’s actions and, as appropriate, pursue legal action given the serious and credible allegations of harm to migrants, interference in the federal enforcement of immigration laws, and violations of treaty commitments with Mexico. Operation Lone Star’s programs and policies, specifically the recent erection of razor wire or buoy walls, pose a huge danger to migrants and impedes the ability of our border patrol offices to safely and humanely treat migrants as well as to comply with relevant federal and international laws. As Governor Abbott continues to escalate his efforts on the border, we urge you to take the above actions and stop this horrific abuse of power.”
The letter, and full list of signatories, is available here.