Discover and read the best of Twitter Threads about #OperationLoneStar
Most recents (8)
🧵1/ For better — and worse — there’s a lot going on in Texas and often what happens here has implications for the rest of the country. This is why @ProPublica & @TexasTribune joined forces to form an investigative team led by @zahiratorres.
Here’s some of what we did last year:
Here’s some of what we did last year:
2/ In 2021, Gov. Abbott launched #OperationLoneStar, the state’s latest iteration of a border crackdown, arguing the federal government failed to do its job so TX needed to step in to stop the smuggling of people/drugs.
@lomikriel & I teamed up w/ @MarshallProj to look into it.
@lomikriel & I teamed up w/ @MarshallProj to look into it.
3/ Our investigation exposed how the state’s claim of success was based on shifting metrics that included crimes with no connection to the border. That included a Black man who lived 250 miles away and was arrested on a family violence assault charge.
propublica.org/article/texas-…
propublica.org/article/texas-…
'Significant evidence that DPS is engaged in racial profiling, discriminating against Latinx drivers and passengers, in these stops. And, troublingly, the stops turn into deadly vehicle pursuits with alarming frequency," @ACLUTx @TXCivilRights alleges in @TheJusticeDept complaint
@ACLUTx @TXCivilRights @TheJusticeDept The allegations come after a state-imposed review of 2021 traffic stops, @jsmccullou writes, flagging DPS as possibly racially profiling Hispanics based on a disproportionate number of stops & searches, despite finding less contraband texastribune.org/2022/07/28/tex…
.@TheJusticeDept is already investigating @TxDPS and other state agencies for alleged civil rights violations in #OperationLoneStar.
propublica.org/article/operat…
propublica.org/article/operat…
Everyone has stopped talking, including @TxDPS @GregAbbott_TX Uvalde ISD and police, @CBP, and the Uvalde district attorney. All open records requests taken to the AG. Reporters now must rely on make no mistake strategic leaks. texasmonthly.com/news-politics/…
The only explanation offered officially so far, by @TxDPS McCraw, was to blame the local ISD police chief. Per McCraw, Arredondo alone held back all the law enforcement—Uvalde city police, the county sheriff’s deputies, Border Patrol officers, and DPS state.
For real?
For real?
.@RolandForTexas who represents Uvalde but is not on the investigating committee told @Forrest4Trees that he believes Abbott and McCraw are trying to divert attention from @TxDPS failures. “What I truly believe is that everybody froze. And now they need to go find a scapegoat.”
#BREAKING Gov. @GregAbbott_TX announces all illegal immigrants that come into the state of Texas will be put on charter buses to the steps of the U.S. Capitol in Washington D.C.— TX Dept of Emergency Mgmt says it will charter as many buses necessary to carry out governor’s order.
Additionally, starting this afternoon @TxDPS will be stationed at the 28 crossings into Texas to conduct enhanced vehicle checks in an attempt to thwart drug/human smuggling and also cut down on pursuits— It’s part of @GregAbbott_TX expansion of #OperationLoneStar
Governor @GregAbbott_TX also announced all @TxDPS and specially trained @TXMilitary will be equipped with riot gear along the border as a precaution following violent videos coming from caravans in Mexico.
When I told Thomas, a 26yo electrician living in Midland more than 250 miles from the US/MX border that @GregAbbott_TX was counting his family violence spat as part of supposed cartel and border crimes under #OperationLoneStar, his response was $%*&@!#*!!
propublica.org/article/texas-…
propublica.org/article/texas-…
For a glimpse into what some of the rest of our reporting looked like, with receipts, read this #thread
Please read the story if you're intrigued (propublica.org/article/texas-… ) & share tips via our call-out:
Help Us Investigate Texas Border Security Initiatives
propublica.org/getinvolved/he…
Help Us Investigate Texas Border Security Initiatives
propublica.org/getinvolved/he…
For 9 months, @ProPublica @TexasTribune @MarshallProject have been trying to figure out what has been accomplished under Gov. @GregAbbott_TX newest multi-billion dollar border op.
Instead, we found limited data that makes it *very* difficult to measure results. For example:
Instead, we found limited data that makes it *very* difficult to measure results. For example:
Abbott and other officials frequently brag about the results of #OperationLoneStar, like:
-arrests
-pounds of drugs seized
-undocumented immigrants the state referred to the feds
-arrests
-pounds of drugs seized
-undocumented immigrants the state referred to the feds
But when we asked for the data behind the arrests, this is what we got: documentcloud.org/documents/2145…
How it started:
How it ended:
Our Troopers continue to patrol train yards to prevent illegal immigration as part of Gov. @GregAbbott_TX’s #OperationLoneStar
THREAD re: Tx role combatting #NationalBorderCrisis. Summary: Feds refuse to enforce, Tx leadership has fought back (in court & with $/rhetoric/action), Tx still getting crushed & b/c feds abandon Constitution, Tx must consider going farther, extraordinary measures. Read… (1/23)
…Clearly it’s the job of the fed govt to secure the border & the Constitution (Artlce IV, Section 4) guarantees a Republican form of govt & to protect against invasion. Yet, @JoeBiden & Mayorkas are willfully (& impeachably) refusing to faithfully execute the laws - e.g… (2/23)
