Texas Department of Public Safety officers and National Guard soldiers, who are part of Gov. Greg Abbott’s border security mission called Operation Lone Star, persistently apprehend violent criminals and strengthen barriers.
In a recent high-profile arrest, law enforcement apprehended an individual who had been deported in the past. This individual was not only a felon but also a confirmed member of the Mexican Mafia, a notorious criminal organization. The arrest took place in Kinney County after the individual illegally crossed the U.S.-Mexico border.
Troopers apprehended two individuals who had illegally crossed the border. Both of them were Mexican nationals, and they were arrested for trespassing on private property and attempting to avoid capture. One of the individuals, Nery Flores Flores, had visible tattoos and was identified as a member of the Mexican Mafia gang. He had been deported before and was wanted for an immigration violation. Flores, who had a history of violence, had served 16 years in prison for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and was deported to Mexico in 2020.
The Mexican Mafia, a prison gang comprising Mexican Americans, is primarily active in central California but also has a presence in approximately twelve other states.
According to DPS Lt. Chris Olivarez, Flores and another Mexican national who was with him were accused of committing criminal trespass and evading arrest.
Kinney County Attorney Brent Smith has filed a motion to raise their bonds to $200,000 cash following their arrest.
“They probably won’t be released from their jail cell anytime soon,” Smith stated. “Once they complete their sentence, they will be met by Tom Homan, President-elect Donald Trump’s border czar, and his ICE agents. They will face prosecution for illegal re-entry. This is an example of what effective border security entails.”
In La Salle County, DPS troopers intercepted a smuggling incident on Interstate 35. The suspect, an undocumented man from El Salvador, led troopers on a high-speed chase during the night. Eventually, DPS troopers managed to stop him by using a tire deflation device. Upon searching the vehicle, they discovered 10 individuals who were being smuggled into the country after illegally crossing the border.
The suspect was apprehended by troopers who then charged him with ten counts of smuggling individuals while possessing a firearm, evading arrest, theft of a firearm, and possession of controlled substances. The 10 individuals who illegally crossed the border, hailing from Mexico, Guatemala, and Honduras, were subsequently referred to the Border Patrol.
Texas National Guard soldiers are currently fortifying areas of the border by constructing additional concertina wire fencing and reinforcing Texas’ border wall.
Riverine boat teams were responsible for patrolling the Rio Grande River from Roma to Brownsville in a specific area of the border.
During a river assessment this week, Staff Sergeant Isais Mayen of the Texas National Guard observed a possible drop-off point typically used for illegal trafficking, potentially associated with cartels. Taking proactive measures, Mayen and his team promptly informed their law enforcement partners about the suspicious activity in order to prevent any further use of the location.
Since the launch of Operation Lone Star, OLS officers have successfully apprehended over 529,500 individuals who attempted to cross the border illegally. Additionally, they have made more than 49,400 arrests for criminal activities, resulting in over 42,500 felony charges. Impressively, they have also managed to seize a staggering amount of more than 588 million lethal doses of fentanyl. This quantity is enough to potentially cause harm to every person in both the United States and Mexico combined.