Governor Greg Abbott announced today the deployment of the newly formed Texas Tactical Border Force to address the escalating border crisis at Austin Bergstrom International Airport in Austin. With President Joe Biden’s imminent end to Title 42, Governor Abbott is reinforcing Texas’ unparalleled border security efforts by deploying hundreds of Texas National Guard soldiers to join the already deployed troops in Operation Lone Star. These soldiers will serve on the Texas Tactical Border Force, providing targeted responses as the nation prepares for an anticipated surge in illegal immigration.

Governor Abbott expressed his commitment to fortifying Texas’ borders, stating, “With the ending of Title 42 on Thursday, President Biden is laying down the welcome mat to people across the entire world, but Texas is deploying our new Texas Tactical Border Force. The Texas National Guard is preparing Blackhawk helicopters and C-130s and deploying specially trained soldiers for the Texas Tactical Border Force. They will be stationed at various hotspots along the border to intercept and repel large groups of migrants attempting to enter Texas unlawfully. The Texas Tactical Border Force will enhance our Operation Lone Star efforts to secure the Texas border amidst the chaos caused by President Biden’s elimination of Title 42.”
Accompanying Governor Abbott at the press conference were Texas Border Czar Mike Banks, Major General Thomas Suelzer from the Texas Military Department, and Director Steve McCraw from the Texas Department of Public Safety.
Border Czar Banks emphasized the impact of President Biden’s border crisis on Texas communities and commended Governor Abbott’s resolute actions. He stated, “Governor Abbott is doing the job that President Biden and the federal government are refusing to do, and Texas will continue to work tirelessly to defend our border. Today’s deployment of the Texas Tactical Border Force will allow us to effectively and efficiently allocate resources to where they are needed the most. I will continue to collaborate with Governor Abbott as we protect Texas from this unprecedented surge of illegal immigration.”
Major General Suelzer of the Texas National Guard outlined the planned response to the end of Title 42, highlighting the strategic shifts in troop deployments, increased drone teams, and expanded barriers along the border. He praised the dedication of the troops in safeguarding the state of Texas.
Director McCraw of the Texas Department of Public Safety affirmed their commitment to reinforcing resources at the border. He mentioned the deployment of hundreds of troopers, including enhanced tactical teams and field force operations teams, to maintain the integrity of the designated legal entry points into the United States.
The deployment of the Texas Tactical Border Force marks the third phase of Governor Abbott’s intensified border security mission, coinciding with President Biden’s termination of Title 42. Following the press conference, two units comprising hundreds of trained service members embarked on missions to El Paso and the Rio Grande Valley. A similar operation is scheduled for tomorrow, with two additional units deploying to the Rio Grande Valley.
The Texas Tactical Border Force serves as an extension of Governor Abbott’s historic Operation Lone Star, which was launched in March 2021. Under Operation Lone Star, Texas has mobilized thousands of Texas National Guard soldiers and DPS troopers to the border, resulting in the apprehension of over 373,000 illegal immigrants, the arrest of more than 28,000 criminals, and the seizure of over 400 million lethal doses of fentanyl—enough to endanger the entire American population. The Texas Tactical Border Force and Operation Lone Star are integral components of Governor Abbott’s comprehensive border security strategy, which includes providing relief to overwhelmed border communities by transporting migrants to sanctuary cities and constructing a state-funded border wall.
With Title 42 set to end this Thursday, the Biden Administration estimates a potential daily influx of up to 13,000 illegal border crossings, projecting over 4.7 million new illegal immigrants within the next year—equivalent to the population of Harris County in Houston