National Guard

Since Abbott's Operation Lone Star began in 2021, at least 17 Texas National Guardsman have died from a multitude of causes, including a drowning in an attempt to save migrants, negligent discharge of a personally owned weapon and suicides.

Texas has sent thousands of soldiers to the border as part of Gov. Greg Abbott’s multibillion-dollar initiative Operation Lone Star. No border town has felt their presence more than Eagle Pass.

Migrants in Mexico said they’ve been shot by the rounds, which leave bruises and disperse a chemical irritant. The state says Guard members are trained not to aim directly at people.

He announced the deployment of a new operations unit in anticipation of the border health policy ending later this week. The pandemic-era public health order allows for the rapid expulsion of some migrants.

Some government watchdogs say the long-running mission is an inappropriate use of the Guard. Even the Pentagon has been looking for an off-ramp.

The referral bonuses are designed to boost recruiting at the National Guard, which fell thousands of troops short of its goal last year.

The National Guard fell about 9,000 troops short of its goal in 2022. Some states are improving their outreach and incentive plans to try to counter that trend.

State Rep. Richard Raymond, a Democrat from Laredo, said he designed the legislation with Operation Lone Star in mind.

The soldier is the 10th known Texas Guard member linked to the mission to die since its rapid expansion began in September 2021.

Texas National Guardmembers held their first union meeting Monday evening in Del Rio. They unionized after facing a host of issues during an involuntary deployment to the border as part of Governor Abbott’s controversial border security program, Operation Lone Star.