Texas Operation Lone Star Nets Arrests of Alleged Criminal Migrants

LAREDO, Texas — Recent law enforcement actions in Texas have led to the arrest of multiple migrants, including individuals wanted for serious crimes such as sexual assault of a child. These arrests are part of Operation Lone Star, a state initiative aimed at enhancing border security and combating illegal immigration.

On February 12, the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) arrested a Honduran national, Junior Adalid Montoya-Alvarez, during a traffic stop involving a 2011 International tractor trailer. At approximately 7 a.m., DPS officials pulled over the vehicle for a routine violation. Upon stopping, the driver and several passengers fled into the nearby brush.

With assistance from additional agencies, authorities apprehended Montoya-Alvarez, who was charged with human smuggling. It was later confirmed that he was wanted in Harris County, Texas, for sexual assault. The incident highlights the dual mission of Operation Lone Star, which not only targets illegal immigration but also focuses on capturing individuals involved in serious criminal activities.

During the operation, seven illegal immigrants from Guatemala and Mexico were also taken into custody and subsequently referred to Border Patrol. Among those apprehended were Armando Alonso-Cortez and Carlos Daniel Espinoza-Arguello, both wanted in Texas for similar crimes.

Espinoza-Arguello, 26, a Venezuelan national, was arrested on February 11 in Socorro after being stopped by DPS agents. Investigations revealed that he was sought for sexual assault of a child, leading to his booking at the El Paso County Jail. The arrest triggered further investigations that uncovered a stash house nearby, where two other illegal immigrants from Venezuela were also arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

On February 6, in a separate incident, a DPS officer stopped a 1999 Dodge pickup truck in Sullivan City, where the passenger, Armando Alonso-Cortez, 40, was found to be a criminal illegal immigrant sought by the Alton Police Department for sexual assault of a child. He was arrested on the spot and transferred to local authorities.

Operation Lone Star was initiated by Texas Governor Greg Abbott in 2021, aiming to combat the surge in illegal crossings and improve safety in communities near the border. Since the operation’s inception, it has led to the apprehension of over 500,000 individuals, thwarted more than 140,000 illegal crossings, and resulted in over 50,000 criminal arrests.

In a letter to U.S. Congressional members, Governor Abbott expressed pride in the operation’s accomplishments while noting its significant financial burden, exceeding $11.1 billion borne by Texas taxpayers. He argued that federal inaction on immigration has forced the state to take unprecedented measures to protect its residents.

“The burden that our state has borne is a direct result of a refusal by the federal government to do its job,” Abbott stated. He emphasized that the protections afforded by Operation Lone Star benefit all Americans, not just those in Texas.

Past attempts by House Republicans to seek reimbursement for the state’s expenses related to immigration enforcement have not resulted in passed legislation.