Members of the Tennessee National Guard were among the personnel installing razor wire fencing along the U.S.-Mexico border on Sunday as part of their work assisting Texas authorities in carrying out Operation Lone Star.
Texas’ Operation Lone Star was launched by Governor Abbott in 2021 in response to the historic influx of illegal border crossings and smuggling operations that continue to take place along the U.S.-Mexico border.
In March, 50 members of the Tennessee National Guard were deployed to the southern border on a volunteer basis to assist the Texas National Guard and Texas Department of Public Safety with Operation Lone Star.
In addition, a group of 125 troops from the Tennessee National Guard’s 1175th Transportation Company were deployed to the southern border in October – four months after another 100 troops were deployed to the border in June.
Tennessee National Guard troops deployed to the border are tasked with assisting U.S. Customs and Border Protection agencies in preventing illegal entries and deterring illicit activity or other threats by assisting with monitoring the border, supporting border patrol stations, and establishing observation posts to help detect illegal entry into the U.S.
The troops also assist with patrolling and providing additional security presence along the border, assisting with road and route clearance, barrier placement and debris removal, as well as staffing outpost operations.
Earlier this month, a member of the Tennessee National Guard was recognized by the Texas Department of Military for recovering a flotation device that three illegal immigrants used to attempt an illegal entry into the U.S.
A Tennessee National Guard Soldier recovers a flotation device that three illegal immigrants used to attempt a Texas entry. Tennessee is one of many states helping to hold the line and defend our Nation. #OperationLoneStar pic.twitter.com/3wMbJaAtlu
— Texas Military Dept. (@TXMilitary) April 17, 2024
“Tennessee is one of many states helping to hold the line and defend our Nation,” the Texas Department of Military said in an X post.
Since the launch of Operation Lone Star three years ago, the effort has led to over 509,500 illegal alien apprehensions, more than 42,100 criminal arrests, and more than 37,400 felony charges.
When it comes to apprehending fentanyl, Texas law enforcement agencies have seized over 476 million lethal doses of the synthetic opioid since the operation’s launch.
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Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Follow Kaitlin on X / Twitter.
