Critics of a contentious law-enforcement campaign targeting migration along the Texas-Mexico border argue that it has resulted in exorbitant costs, reaching hundreds of thousands of dollars per person arrested. Operation Lone Star, which has already spent approximately US$5 billion, has faced scrutiny as it detains asylum seekers and economic migrants for misdemeanor trespassing. The program has deployed thousands of officers and built physical barriers, including a floating buoy barrier that has drawn criticism from Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador.
According to calculations made by the Texas Fair Defence Project (TFDP), an advocacy group, the state of Texas has reportedly spent around US$400,000 for each person arrested and processed through two designated facilities. With a total of 33,600 criminal arrests claimed by Texas authorities, critics argue that the figures are misleading, as they include unrelated arrests not related to migration issues. The high costs of Operation Lone Star have drawn significant concern, with some considering it a misuse of taxpayer dollars.
Operation Lone Star has faced a mounting number of legal challenges. The United States Department of Justice sued Texas in July over the use of floating buoy barriers, asserting that these barriers were installed without federal authorization. Additionally, the state disbanded an intelligence wing of the operation last year amid whistleblower reports suggesting unauthorized foreign intelligence activities. Los Angeles City Council recently voted to explore legal options against Texas after the state transported hundreds of migrants to the city. The council members claim that the long bus journeys with insufficient provisions may potentially amount to crimes such as kidnapping and human trafficking.
As Operation Lone Star continues, its high costs and controversial practices face growing scrutiny. Although Texas asserts that it has made significant criminal arrests and prevented crime from spreading across the state and the nation, critics argue that the operation has not achieved its stated goals and has incurred unjustifiable expenses. The clash between state and federal policies, coupled with the increasing influx of asylum seekers and economic migrants, has created a complex issue that requires a comprehensive approach to address both border security concerns and human rights considerations.
