Operation Lone Star transformed this Texas border town, but the battle didn’t start there

When Jessie Fuentes was growing up, Eagle Pass was a slice of heaven. As a result, he joined the Eagle Pass Border Coalition — a local advocacy group that’s been a vocal opponent of Operation Lone Star. With some of the escalations we’re seeing in South Texas right now, there’s a precedent for Border Patrol having a level of comfort with migrant deaths every single year.” Last month, Operation Lone Star sparked public outcry when a body was found along the floating barrier. In response to the claims, Abbott’s office issued a statement, saying that “no orders or directions have been given under Operation Lone Star that would compromise the lives of those attempting to cross the border illegally.” They also added, “Until President Biden reverses his open border policies and does his job to secure the border, Texas will continue protecting Texans and Americans from the chaos along the border.” Militarizing the border has largely been a winning strategy for Texas politicians, one that Mary Mendoza, a historian of the U.S.-Mexico borderlands at Penn State, says plays directly into the long-standing fears Americans have about immigration. creating a real environment for hate — he showed up here in force, put gates around our public park, there are soldiers and troopers everywhere.” And though Operation Lone Star has sparked national headlines and even legal challenges, it’s clear to Levario that Abbott is unlikely to back down.