By: Dyson H.R. No. 53
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Due to the lack of action by the federal government,
the State of Texas has been forced to continually appropriate funds
to secure the southern border of the United States; and
WHEREAS, In March 2021, Governor Greg Abbott launched
Operation Lone Star to address record levels of migrant crossings
and drug trafficking at the southern border; over the last three
years, Texas has invested approximately $11 billion into the
initiative; these funds have supported a variety of efforts, such
as implementing surveillance technologies, providing resources to
local law enforcement agencies, conducting legal and
administrative activities, and managing the public health and
humanitarian aspects of migration; and
WHEREAS, As part of Operation Lone Star, members of the Texas
National Guard and the Texas Department of Public Safety have been
deployed to the region to help detect and repel illegal crossings,
arrest human smugglers and cartel gang members, and stop the flow of
deadly drugs such as fentanyl into the United States; the program
has led to more than 516,300 apprehensions of illegal immigrants
and over 45,300 arrests; and
WHEREAS, Although it is the duty of the federal government to
secure the nation's borders, the State of Texas has expended
significant resources to help maintain safety and security across
the United States, and Congress should take responsibility for its
failure to address the crisis at the southern border; now,
therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 89th Texas
Legislature hereby respectfully urge the Congress of the United
States to reimburse the State of Texas in the amount of $11 billion
for border security costs incurred under Operation Lone Star; and,
be it further
RESOLVED, That the chief clerk of the Texas House of
Representatives forward official copies of this resolution to the
president of the United States, to the president of the Senate and
the speaker of the House of Representatives of the United States
Congress, and to all the members of the Texas delegation to Congress
with the request that this resolution be officially entered in the
Congressional Record as a memorial to the Congress of the United
States of America.