ANOTHER SOLDIER FROM OPERATION LONE STAR AT THE BORDER PASSES AWAY


By slawlor
operation lone star

On Thursday, July 14, 2022, a Texas National Guard Soldier passed away from a pulmonary blood clot. The Soldier, whose name has not been released to the public at the time of writing, was assigned to Operation Lone Star — a controversial mission started in March 2021 by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott. Sources report the Soldier first began to feel unwell after they completed a shift at a security point on the border. The Soldier’s death was unrelated to the mission, and the cause of death was connected to the blood clot. Details on the incident have not been released, but a Texas Military Department spokesperson gave a brief statement that mentioned that the Soldier’s cause of death is currently “under further investigation.” Following this news, many have begun asking, “What exactly is Operation Lone Star?” Suggested read:The Dangers of Exposure to Burn Pits & New Policies To Mitigate Them

Operation Lone Star – The Basics

Operation Lone Star is a border security initiative. It began in March 2021. Abbott stated that the initiative was created in response to rising border crossings and claims the mission is to deter human smuggling, drug trafficking, gang activity, and crime at the border. The governor has been openly critical of President Joe Biden's handling of border security. In May 2021, Abbott issued a disaster declaration to obtain authority to deploy the Texas National Guard to the border. There are 53 counties included in the declaration, most of which are near or on the U.S. border. Operation Lone Star is run by state agencies. The Texas Department of Public Safety and the Texas Military Department are in charge of Operation Lone Star. Operation expenses are estimated to cost taxpayers more than $2.5 million a week, according to The Texas Tribune, ProPublica, and The Marshall Project. This makes the initiative one of the most expensive of the state’s border operations. In fall 2021, the operation was massively expanded by Gov. Abbott. In order to meet troop quotas for these expansions, involuntary activations were put in place for Soldiers. This means that some Soldiers assigned to the initiative were ordered to go on state active-duty orders with no idea how long their mission would last.

The Operation’s Recent Losses

The recent loss of a Soldier who worked the security point is not the only tragic death of a military member working on the operation. Suicides of Soldiers working in the operation from late 2021 to 2022 have also been reported. A total of four Soldiers took their own lives in winter 2021. Questions about the suicides were raised, and some report that the indefinite involuntary call-ups may have played a role in the tragic deaths. Several Operation Lone Star deaths have been reported over the past year. A Texas Military Department spokesperson stated the organization has a 24-hour confidential counseling line for Soldiers and commanders. The resources are in place to help military members access resources, if needed. Two other Operation Lone Star National Guard Soldiers passed away in accidental shootings recently. Another died a few months back while trying to save two migrants when he did not have the proper flotation device and drowned.

Operation Lone Star Update

There have been reports the operation is currently under investigation by the Justice Department for alleged violations of civil rights. This Operation Lone Star news can be traced to records obtained by the Texas Tribune and ProPublica that illustrate a current investigation. A DOJ spokesperson refused to comment on specifics and qualify or deny any investigations about the operation. Abbott’s office stated that the prosecutions and arrests which raised questions about the civil rights investigation were “fully constitutional.” As of right now, Operation Lone Star is operating as planned. Read next:Mission Daybreak To Pay $20 Million To Help Lower Veteran Suicide Rate

Image: Instagram / governorabbott


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