WebCalifornia Air National Guard. How successful has it been in preventing or mitigating illegal activity at the border? We looked up 1LT Wards payment records and he does not have a current payment processed. On Thursday, officials with the Texas Military Department acknowledged that the payroll Mode: Jason Featherston was in the final month of his 25-year career in the Texas Army National Guard when he heard the news. A former filmmaker, University of North Texas graduate, and one-time assistant language teacher, Robert Montoya misses Japan and the 1980s. Operation Lone Star continues to fill the dangerous gaps left by the Biden Administration's refusal to secure the border. Hunter Schuler, who was a leading voice among the troops who tried to unionize in the spring, said he will have to pay around $2,500 to the IRS. In the fight against fentanyl, DPS has seized over 355 million lethal doses of fentanyl during this border mission. Unfortunately, the issues havent been only administrative. Later that month, Abbott directed 1,000 DPS personnel and 400 more Texas National Guard members to the border in response to the sudden arrival of 16,000 migrants in Del Rio. With lackluster results and growing costs Gov. All 18 illegal immigrants were referred to Border Patrol. But, the operation has also involved staff from other agencies, including the Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) and Department of Public Safety (DPS). Texas National Guard Soldiers Help In Illegal Trespasser Detection, Apprehension. , the initiative involves border wall construction, the deployment of 10,000 National Guard troops under the pretense of a disaster declaration, and the redirection of the Department of Public Safety (DPS) state troopers and state judicial personnel towards the mass arrests of migrants for trespassing. optik tv login The Army's Talent Management Task Force (TMTF) has deployed IPPS-A, the Integrated Personnel and Pay System - Army, an app which serves the National Guard, and in 2021 the Army Reserve and Active Army. However, the Texas Tribunes investigation has shown that the statistics used by Texas officials have been based on changing and often unclear metrics. Texas Scorecard also asked for the actual number of unpaid guardsmen, and the duration of time they have gone unpaid. Abbott launched Operation Lone Star in March 2021 in response to a rise in illegal immigration that would eventually reach historic levels along the Texas-Mexico He joined Military Times in 2020. Even so, the rapid deployment and limited preparation time have led to significant challenges for the state National Guard. supporting the Tribune. Though it has been verified that Saenz email was received, no response has been given yet. On October 22, Coleman told staff in an email that TMD also contacted the Governors office and said that there was something about the current process taking a while for personnel to get their first check and the General was worried about what personnel might start saying publicly., Since a letter was sent to the Comptroller and the Governors office reached out to us, Exec is interested in knowing about this activity., On October 25, Alice Alvarado, manager of the comptrollers Statewide Fiscal Systems Department, emailed Coleman that First Lt. Hohmann does not have a current payment processed, and the last payment processed for him was on March 5, 2021., He is not included on any of the payrolls that failed Friday night due to the Outbound being run twice, Alvarado responded, adding that she had asked Danette McWilliams (who was formerly with TMD but had been transferred to the comptroller) to look into the situation and inform TMD of the 280 [soldiers] in total missing their payments. Alvarado commented, There appears to be an internal disconnect at TMD.. But, Abbott was able to give himself sweeping powers to spend money and even suspend local laws to respond to the self-declared emergency. Abbott and other officials such as State Attorney General Ken Paxton have begun to explore other potential avenues for addressing border policy while superseding federal government authority. But thats only one facet of the multipart initiative that is Operation Lone Star. We only process payments when TMD enters the information required to process a payment into the payroll system on their end., We do know that Lt. Hohmann received additional payments on: Oct 28, Nov 4, Nov 19, and Dec 6, 2021., A source within TMD recently told Texas Scorecard the pay issue for the TNG is ongoing, but its gotten better and indicated that the improvement is significant. The operation, which was facilitated by Abbotts disaster declaration in May of 2021, directs the state Department of Public Safety to use available resources to prevent the criminal activity along the border a broad mandate that has only grown in scale in the intervening years. Abbott and DPS have claimed that OLS has led to over 11,000 criminal arrests, the referral of tens of thousands of unauthorized immigrants to the federal government for deportation and the seizure of thousands of lethal doses of illegal drugs. Earlier in 2022, about 30 soldiers were dispatched to guard private ranches that already have security as part of Operation Lone Star, which raised questions about how and why the Texas National Guard is being used at the border. Human smugglers led DPS troopers on a high-speed vehicle pursuit, reaching upward of 120 miles per hour in Kinney County late last month. According to the joint investigation by the Texas Tribune, The Marshall Project and Propublica, not much. https://www.texastribune.org/2021/05/27/abbott-border-fentanyl/, https://www.krgv.com/news/gov-abbott-issues-disaster-declaration-along-texas-southern-border/, https://www.texastribune.org/2022/10/27/operation-lone-star-greg-abbott-budget/, https://gov.texas.gov/news/post/governor-abbott-texas-state-leadership-approve-495.3-million-in-additional-funding-for-operation-lone-star-border-security-operations, https://www.texastribune.org/2022/09/14/texas-operation-lone-star-deployments/, https://www.texastribune.org/2022/02/01/texas-national-guard-border-operation-lone-star-abbott/, https://www.armytimes.com/news/your-army/2021/12/23/wave-of-suicides-hits-texas-national-guards-border-mission/, https://www.texastribune.org/2022/04/27/texas-operation-lone-star-greg-abbott-border/, A look at massive $800 million border security initiative Operation LoneStar in Texas & whether it's successfully curbing illegal immigration, Background of Texas Border Policy and Operation LoneStar, Expenses incurred for Operation LoneStar in Texas, Significant Challenges for the Texas state National Guard, Results so far in Operation LoneStar in Texas, TEXAS GOVERNOR SENDS ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS TO D.C. Finance personnel recently added the withholding issue to the briefings they give troops when they depart the mission, which includes average projected income tax estimates by annual taxable income. Abbott cited policy changes instituted by the incoming Biden administration. The new vernacular of illegal immigration is an indictment of the U.S. Department of Homeland Securitys (Department of Homeland At this time, Abbotts orders to deployed TNG troops were to help the Texas Department of Public Safety arrest lawbreakers at the border. If it was someone like us low-level soldiers, we would have been held accountable, he said. Those payrolls covered 89 personnel. Coleman wrote they would contact TMD to inquire specifically about Hohmann and work with them on their issues., Texas Scorecard asked the comptroller if any orders for Hohmann after February were unpaid, and for how long. One Air National Guard member who left the mission in May said hed never heard of the withholding shortfall when reached by the Tribune and Army Times. Greg Abbott could be stuck paying hundreds or even thousands of dollars in unexpected federal taxes Five more have died in accidents during deployment. Lest we forget, the purpose of Operation LoneStar in Texas was not only to deter illegal immigration but to fight the import of illegal drugs, particularly fentanyl. The tax blunder is the latest strike against a state bureaucracy that has been strained under the weight and haste of Abbotts border mission. WebEven so, the rapid deployment and limited preparation time have led to significant challenges for the state National Guard. On October 25, Texas Scorecard, under the Texas Public Information Act, sent an open records request to the Texas comptroller, requesting all internal notices and memos regarding overdue pay and backpay regarding the TNG, as well as payment guidelines for Texas National Guard Infantry.. Mode: Jason Featherston was in the final month of his 25-year career in the Texas Army National Guard when he heard the news. Sign up for The Brief, our daily newsletter that keeps readers up to speed on the most essential Texas news. Troops also asked what kind of support the department would provide them in navigating their taxes because of the mistake. RECENT HIGHLIGHTS FROM OPERATION LONE STAR: WATCH: Governor Abbott Slams President Biden's Late, InadequateBorder Action. Another service member in the Air National Guard said supervisors are providing troops with tax classes to help them work through the issue. The Operation integrates DPS with the Texas National Guard and deploys air, Abbotts office did not respond to a request for comment. Significant Challenges for the Texas state National Guard. Abbott launched Operation Lone Star in March 2021 in response to a rise in illegal immigration that would eventually reach historic levels along the Texas-Mexico border. The Texas Military Department, which oversees the deployment of National Guard troops, has now overspent their portion of the border security budget twice, and told the Texas Senate Committee on Border Security that they would need an additional $530 million to continue functioning through the summer. The junior soldier who owes $1,300 was succinct when asked to describe the situation: Shitty., Thankfully, I have money for it, the soldier said. Everything was working prior to 2021. In the email, officials explained that the payroll system was set up to pay service members twice a month, rather than once a month, to mirror federal pay periods. In a leaked morale survey taken in January 2022, some Texas National Guard members slammed Operation Lone Star for a rushed, involuntary deployment, poor working conditions, delayed pay and a lack of state benefits, The Texas Tribune and the Military Times reported. How have the mass arrests affected organized crime and illegal migration? funding for the operation has amounted to about $74.8 million including but not limited to: $38.4 million for law enforcement, jail operations, and court administration activities; $22.3 million for district and county attorneys near the border or otherwise designated for prosecution resources; $14 million for border adjacent counties for In response to Texass tampering with international trade the Mexican government declared that it will shift the construction of its long planned railway trade connection, worth billions of dollars, out of Texas and into New Mexico according to the. This time he asked for another almost $1.9 billion to pay another 1,800 guards/troopers and build a border wall (called Operation Steel Curtain, under the OLS program). Operation Lone Star is costing taxpayers $2.5 million every week, according to an analysis by The Texas Tribune, ProPublica and The Marshall Project published in March 2022. The driver lost control of the car and hit a light pole at a Border Patrol checkpoint. On July 27, Abbott ordered theTexas National Guard (TNG)to assist theTexasDepartment of Public Safety by arresting lawbreakers at the border.He didnt specify how many troops were to be deployed. This is a far cry from the governors initial claim that the DPS would be arresting everybody coming across the border, a claim which wasnt really possible even at the time due to federal immigration law. Abbot began his border initiative, Operation Lone Star (OLS), in March of last year; since then the operation has grown to be the. Governor Greg Abbott and the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) today launched Operation Lone Star to combat the smuggling of people and drugs into Texas. Finance personnel recently added the withholding issue to the briefings they give troops when they depart the mission, which includes average projected income tax estimates by annual taxable income. As we transition from midterm elections into presidential campaign season, expect Operation Lone Star to become even more salient to Texans and to the nation. . Rob Coleman, director of the Comptrollers Fiscal Management Division, replied. One Air National Guard member who left the mission in May said hed never heard of the withholding shortfall when reached by the Tribune and Army Times. Spc. Because thats the typical answer that weve gotten from the Texas Army National Guard, like hey, we need help and they basically just say, well, you just are going to have to figure it out.. However, according to the investigation by The Texas Tribune, ProPublica and The Marshall Project, the state has been counting arrests and drug charges physically distant from the border, unrelated to criminal activity at the border and not investigated by DPS or the Texas Military Department. Since the news organizations investigation, DPS has since removed those numbers. Operation Lone Star Commanding Officer. Officials said they became aware of the issue in July 2022. The mission is to curtail the migrants surging into the Rio Grande. Their instructions are to prevent criminal If we run into significant problems, Ill [sic] let you know., On October 22, Hegar emailed Coleman again. Just wow.. Since the launch of Operation Lone Star, the multi-agency effort has led to over 340,000 illegal immigrant apprehensions and more than 23,000 criminal arrests, with more than 21,000 felony charges reported. There has been no evidence of the additional checks discovering any illegal drugs or trafficked humans. Win Burkett about the tax issue during a question-and-answer session of a briefing at Camp Swift near Austin in September, according to the service member. Over 400 personnel and 40 vehicles were repositioned This time he asked for another almost $1.9 billion to pay another 1,800 guards/troopers and build a border wall (called Operation Steel Curtain, under the OLS President Biden has not provided any concrete solutions to combat the record levels of illegal immigration and transnational criminal activity pouring across the border. Youll need to check with [TMD] itself for answers to your questions.. Two days later, Hegar asked comptroller staff if there were issues paying soldiers. Most of the personnel assigned to support Operation LoneStar in Texas have been state National Guard troops. But some service members reached by the Tribune and Army Times said they had not been made aware of the problem. On October 13, anywhere from 500 to 1,000 TNG forces were expected to be deployed to border counties. Texas has also bused more than 9,100 migrants to our nation's capital since April, over 4,900 migrants to New York City since August 5, more than 1,500 migrants to Chicago since August 31, and more than 840 migrants to Philadelphia since November 15. The fact is that the numbers of apprehensions are more reflective of an increase in attempted border crossings than of improved enforcement, and so far the operation does not appear to be deterring this rise: total apprehensions, both at the state and national level, have increased slightly since the start of the operation. However, theres no question that this declaration made Operation Lone Stars dramatic expansion possible. At 9:46 a.m., Coleman updated Hegar on Hohmanns specific situation. This is a self-inflicted crisis, a national security crisis, and a humanitarian crisis., WATCH: DPS Troopers Find 18 Illegal Immigrants Under Tarp In Semi-Trailer. Since the launch of Operation Lone Star, the multi-agency effort has led to over 340,000 illegal immigrant apprehensions and more than 23,000 criminal arrests, with Press Release. Abbott had lawyers from their offices meet last month to discuss the reality of such a move. Ive had one soldier who went 42 days without pay. Officials said they became aware of the issue in July 2022. Asked what kind of support the department would provide them in navigating their taxes because of the issue in 2022... Abbott was able to give himself sweeping powers to spend money and even suspend local laws to respond to request... Guard said supervisors are providing troops with tax classes to Help them through! To border Patrol checkpoint the Operation integrates DPS with the Texas National Guard and deploys,... 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WebCalifornia Air National Guard. How successful has it been in preventing or mitigating illegal activity at the border? We looked up 1LT Wards payment records and he does not have a current payment processed. On Thursday, officials with the Texas Military Department acknowledged that the payroll Mode: Jason Featherston was in the final month of his 25-year career in the Texas Army National Guard when he heard the news. A former filmmaker, University of North Texas graduate, and one-time assistant language teacher, Robert Montoya misses Japan and the 1980s. Operation Lone Star continues to fill the dangerous gaps left by the Biden Administration's refusal to secure the border. Hunter Schuler, who was a leading voice among the troops who tried to unionize in the spring, said he will have to pay around $2,500 to the IRS. In the fight against fentanyl, DPS has seized over 355 million lethal doses of fentanyl during this border mission. Unfortunately, the issues havent been only administrative. Later that month, Abbott directed 1,000 DPS personnel and 400 more Texas National Guard members to the border in response to the sudden arrival of 16,000 migrants in Del Rio. With lackluster results and growing costs Gov. All 18 illegal immigrants were referred to Border Patrol. But, the operation has also involved staff from other agencies, including the Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) and Department of Public Safety (DPS). Texas National Guard Soldiers Help In Illegal Trespasser Detection, Apprehension. , the initiative involves border wall construction, the deployment of 10,000 National Guard troops under the pretense of a disaster declaration, and the redirection of the Department of Public Safety (DPS) state troopers and state judicial personnel towards the mass arrests of migrants for trespassing. optik tv login The Army's Talent Management Task Force (TMTF) has deployed IPPS-A, the Integrated Personnel and Pay System - Army, an app which serves the National Guard, and in 2021 the Army Reserve and Active Army. However, the Texas Tribunes investigation has shown that the statistics used by Texas officials have been based on changing and often unclear metrics. Texas Scorecard also asked for the actual number of unpaid guardsmen, and the duration of time they have gone unpaid. Abbott launched Operation Lone Star in March 2021 in response to a rise in illegal immigration that would eventually reach historic levels along the Texas-Mexico He joined Military Times in 2020. Even so, the rapid deployment and limited preparation time have led to significant challenges for the state National Guard. supporting the Tribune. Though it has been verified that Saenz email was received, no response has been given yet. On October 22, Coleman told staff in an email that TMD also contacted the Governors office and said that there was something about the current process taking a while for personnel to get their first check and the General was worried about what personnel might start saying publicly., Since a letter was sent to the Comptroller and the Governors office reached out to us, Exec is interested in knowing about this activity., On October 25, Alice Alvarado, manager of the comptrollers Statewide Fiscal Systems Department, emailed Coleman that First Lt. Hohmann does not have a current payment processed, and the last payment processed for him was on March 5, 2021., He is not included on any of the payrolls that failed Friday night due to the Outbound being run twice, Alvarado responded, adding that she had asked Danette McWilliams (who was formerly with TMD but had been transferred to the comptroller) to look into the situation and inform TMD of the 280 [soldiers] in total missing their payments. Alvarado commented, There appears to be an internal disconnect at TMD.. But, Abbott was able to give himself sweeping powers to spend money and even suspend local laws to respond to the self-declared emergency. Abbott and other officials such as State Attorney General Ken Paxton have begun to explore other potential avenues for addressing border policy while superseding federal government authority. But thats only one facet of the multipart initiative that is Operation Lone Star. We only process payments when TMD enters the information required to process a payment into the payroll system on their end., We do know that Lt. Hohmann received additional payments on: Oct 28, Nov 4, Nov 19, and Dec 6, 2021., A source within TMD recently told Texas Scorecard the pay issue for the TNG is ongoing, but its gotten better and indicated that the improvement is significant. The operation, which was facilitated by Abbotts disaster declaration in May of 2021, directs the state Department of Public Safety to use available resources to prevent the criminal activity along the border a broad mandate that has only grown in scale in the intervening years. Abbott and DPS have claimed that OLS has led to over 11,000 criminal arrests, the referral of tens of thousands of unauthorized immigrants to the federal government for deportation and the seizure of thousands of lethal doses of illegal drugs. Earlier in 2022, about 30 soldiers were dispatched to guard private ranches that already have security as part of Operation Lone Star, which raised questions about how and why the Texas National Guard is being used at the border. Human smugglers led DPS troopers on a high-speed vehicle pursuit, reaching upward of 120 miles per hour in Kinney County late last month. According to the joint investigation by the Texas Tribune, The Marshall Project and Propublica, not much. https://www.texastribune.org/2021/05/27/abbott-border-fentanyl/, https://www.krgv.com/news/gov-abbott-issues-disaster-declaration-along-texas-southern-border/, https://www.texastribune.org/2022/10/27/operation-lone-star-greg-abbott-budget/, https://gov.texas.gov/news/post/governor-abbott-texas-state-leadership-approve-495.3-million-in-additional-funding-for-operation-lone-star-border-security-operations, https://www.texastribune.org/2022/09/14/texas-operation-lone-star-deployments/, https://www.texastribune.org/2022/02/01/texas-national-guard-border-operation-lone-star-abbott/, https://www.armytimes.com/news/your-army/2021/12/23/wave-of-suicides-hits-texas-national-guards-border-mission/, https://www.texastribune.org/2022/04/27/texas-operation-lone-star-greg-abbott-border/, A look at massive $800 million border security initiative Operation LoneStar in Texas & whether it's successfully curbing illegal immigration, Background of Texas Border Policy and Operation LoneStar, Expenses incurred for Operation LoneStar in Texas, Significant Challenges for the Texas state National Guard, Results so far in Operation LoneStar in Texas, TEXAS GOVERNOR SENDS ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS TO D.C. Finance personnel recently added the withholding issue to the briefings they give troops when they depart the mission, which includes average projected income tax estimates by annual taxable income. Abbott cited policy changes instituted by the incoming Biden administration. The new vernacular of illegal immigration is an indictment of the U.S. Department of Homeland Securitys (Department of Homeland At this time, Abbotts orders to deployed TNG troops were to help the Texas Department of Public Safety arrest lawbreakers at the border. If it was someone like us low-level soldiers, we would have been held accountable, he said. Those payrolls covered 89 personnel. Coleman wrote they would contact TMD to inquire specifically about Hohmann and work with them on their issues., Texas Scorecard asked the comptroller if any orders for Hohmann after February were unpaid, and for how long. One Air National Guard member who left the mission in May said hed never heard of the withholding shortfall when reached by the Tribune and Army Times. Greg Abbott could be stuck paying hundreds or even thousands of dollars in unexpected federal taxes Five more have died in accidents during deployment. Lest we forget, the purpose of Operation LoneStar in Texas was not only to deter illegal immigration but to fight the import of illegal drugs, particularly fentanyl. The tax blunder is the latest strike against a state bureaucracy that has been strained under the weight and haste of Abbotts border mission. WebEven so, the rapid deployment and limited preparation time have led to significant challenges for the state National Guard. On October 25, Texas Scorecard, under the Texas Public Information Act, sent an open records request to the Texas comptroller, requesting all internal notices and memos regarding overdue pay and backpay regarding the TNG, as well as payment guidelines for Texas National Guard Infantry.. Mode: Jason Featherston was in the final month of his 25-year career in the Texas Army National Guard when he heard the news. Sign up for The Brief, our daily newsletter that keeps readers up to speed on the most essential Texas news. Troops also asked what kind of support the department would provide them in navigating their taxes because of the mistake. RECENT HIGHLIGHTS FROM OPERATION LONE STAR: WATCH: Governor Abbott Slams President Biden's Late, InadequateBorder Action. Another service member in the Air National Guard said supervisors are providing troops with tax classes to help them work through the issue. The Operation integrates DPS with the Texas National Guard and deploys air, Abbotts office did not respond to a request for comment. Significant Challenges for the Texas state National Guard. Abbott launched Operation Lone Star in March 2021 in response to a rise in illegal immigration that would eventually reach historic levels along the Texas-Mexico border. The Texas Military Department, which oversees the deployment of National Guard troops, has now overspent their portion of the border security budget twice, and told the Texas Senate Committee on Border Security that they would need an additional $530 million to continue functioning through the summer. The junior soldier who owes $1,300 was succinct when asked to describe the situation: Shitty., Thankfully, I have money for it, the soldier said. Everything was working prior to 2021. In the email, officials explained that the payroll system was set up to pay service members twice a month, rather than once a month, to mirror federal pay periods. In a leaked morale survey taken in January 2022, some Texas National Guard members slammed Operation Lone Star for a rushed, involuntary deployment, poor working conditions, delayed pay and a lack of state benefits, The Texas Tribune and the Military Times reported. How have the mass arrests affected organized crime and illegal migration? funding for the operation has amounted to about $74.8 million including but not limited to: $38.4 million for law enforcement, jail operations, and court administration activities; $22.3 million for district and county attorneys near the border or otherwise designated for prosecution resources; $14 million for border adjacent counties for In response to Texass tampering with international trade the Mexican government declared that it will shift the construction of its long planned railway trade connection, worth billions of dollars, out of Texas and into New Mexico according to the. This time he asked for another almost $1.9 billion to pay another 1,800 guards/troopers and build a border wall (called Operation Steel Curtain, under the OLS program). Operation Lone Star is costing taxpayers $2.5 million every week, according to an analysis by The Texas Tribune, ProPublica and The Marshall Project published in March 2022. The driver lost control of the car and hit a light pole at a Border Patrol checkpoint. On July 27, Abbott ordered theTexas National Guard (TNG)to assist theTexasDepartment of Public Safety by arresting lawbreakers at the border.He didnt specify how many troops were to be deployed. This is a far cry from the governors initial claim that the DPS would be arresting everybody coming across the border, a claim which wasnt really possible even at the time due to federal immigration law. Abbot began his border initiative, Operation Lone Star (OLS), in March of last year; since then the operation has grown to be the. Governor Greg Abbott and the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) today launched Operation Lone Star to combat the smuggling of people and drugs into Texas. Finance personnel recently added the withholding issue to the briefings they give troops when they depart the mission, which includes average projected income tax estimates by annual taxable income. As we transition from midterm elections into presidential campaign season, expect Operation Lone Star to become even more salient to Texans and to the nation. . Rob Coleman, director of the Comptrollers Fiscal Management Division, replied. One Air National Guard member who left the mission in May said hed never heard of the withholding shortfall when reached by the Tribune and Army Times. Spc. Because thats the typical answer that weve gotten from the Texas Army National Guard, like hey, we need help and they basically just say, well, you just are going to have to figure it out.. However, according to the investigation by The Texas Tribune, ProPublica and The Marshall Project, the state has been counting arrests and drug charges physically distant from the border, unrelated to criminal activity at the border and not investigated by DPS or the Texas Military Department. Since the news organizations investigation, DPS has since removed those numbers. Operation Lone Star Commanding Officer. Officials said they became aware of the issue in July 2022. The mission is to curtail the migrants surging into the Rio Grande. Their instructions are to prevent criminal If we run into significant problems, Ill [sic] let you know., On October 22, Hegar emailed Coleman again. Just wow.. Since the launch of Operation Lone Star, the multi-agency effort has led to over 340,000 illegal immigrant apprehensions and more than 23,000 criminal arrests, with more than 21,000 felony charges reported. There has been no evidence of the additional checks discovering any illegal drugs or trafficked humans. Win Burkett about the tax issue during a question-and-answer session of a briefing at Camp Swift near Austin in September, according to the service member. Over 400 personnel and 40 vehicles were repositioned This time he asked for another almost $1.9 billion to pay another 1,800 guards/troopers and build a border wall (called Operation Steel Curtain, under the OLS President Biden has not provided any concrete solutions to combat the record levels of illegal immigration and transnational criminal activity pouring across the border. Youll need to check with [TMD] itself for answers to your questions.. Two days later, Hegar asked comptroller staff if there were issues paying soldiers. Most of the personnel assigned to support Operation LoneStar in Texas have been state National Guard troops. But some service members reached by the Tribune and Army Times said they had not been made aware of the problem. On October 13, anywhere from 500 to 1,000 TNG forces were expected to be deployed to border counties. Texas has also bused more than 9,100 migrants to our nation's capital since April, over 4,900 migrants to New York City since August 5, more than 1,500 migrants to Chicago since August 31, and more than 840 migrants to Philadelphia since November 15. The fact is that the numbers of apprehensions are more reflective of an increase in attempted border crossings than of improved enforcement, and so far the operation does not appear to be deterring this rise: total apprehensions, both at the state and national level, have increased slightly since the start of the operation. However, theres no question that this declaration made Operation Lone Stars dramatic expansion possible. At 9:46 a.m., Coleman updated Hegar on Hohmanns specific situation. 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