89R10049 TBO-D     By: Gerdes, DeAyala, Metcalf, Guillen, H.C.R. No. 40       Bumgarner, et al.       CONCURRENT RESOLUTION          WHEREAS, Due to the lack of action by the federal government,   the State of Texas has been forced to continually appropriate funds   to secure the southern border of the United States; and          WHEREAS, In March 2021, Governor Greg Abbott launched   Operation Lone Star to address record levels of migrant crossings   and drug trafficking at the southern border; over the last three   years, Texas has invested billions of dollars into the initiative;   these funds have supported a variety of efforts, such as   implementing surveillance technologies, providing resources to   local law enforcement agencies, conducting legal and   administrative activities, and managing the public health and   humanitarian aspects of migration; and          WHEREAS, As part of Operation Lone Star, members of the Texas   National Guard and the Texas Department of Public Safety have been   deployed to the region to help detect and repel illegal crossings,   arrest human smugglers and cartel gang members, and stop the flow of   deadly drugs such as fentanyl into the United States; the program   has led to more than 516,300 apprehensions of illegal immigrants   and over 45,300 arrests; and          WHEREAS, Although it is the duty of the federal government to   secure the nation's borders, the State of Texas has expended   significant resources to help maintain safety and security across   the United States, and Congress should take responsibility for its   failure to address the crisis at the southern border; now,   therefore, be it          RESOLVED, That the 89th Legislature of the State of Texas   hereby respectfully urge the Congress of the United States to   reimburse the State of Texas for border security costs incurred   under Operation Lone Star; and, be it further          RESOLVED, That the Texas secretary of state forward official   copies of this resolution to the president of the United States, to   the president of the Senate and the speaker of the House of   Representatives of the United States Congress, and to all the   members of the Texas delegation to Congress with the request that   this resolution be officially entered in the Congressional Record   as a memorial to the Congress of the United States of America.