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DPS director reports continued criminal activity despite lower overall border crossings; highlights drug seizures and stash-house interdictions
Summary
Colonel Martin told the commission that while federal policy changes reduced overall southwest border crossings, criminal smuggling and trafficking persist; he cited substantial drug seizures, stash-house recoveries and ongoing Operation Lone Star interdictions.
Colonel Martin, director of the Texas Department of Public Safety, told the Public Safety Commission on Dec. 1 that although federal changes in early 2024 reduced overall southwest border migration, criminal smuggling and trafficking operations continue and DPS enforcement has produced significant seizures and arrests.
Martin said the southwest border's daily apprehension count has dropped, but Texas still accounts for substantial enforcement activity. "When you look at what DPS does, the numbers really haven't changed much at all," he said, noting a month-to-month arrest average that remains above 1,000 per month for DPS personnel assigned to Operation Lone Star.
The director highlighted multi-year enforcement totals and recent operational figures:…
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