State Trooper Patrols Increased Around Del Rio

State Trooper Patrols Increased Around Del Rio
June 12, 2008
By Chuck Dent
Special to LIVE!


A Texas Department of Public Safety squad car on patrol (contributed photo) (click image to enlarge) If you think you have been seeing an increased number of black and white highway patrol cruisers along U.S. Highway 277 and U.S. Highway 90 over the past several months, your eyes are not deceiving you. According to Major John Madden of the Texas Department of Public Safety, they have been assigned to Operation Border Star to assist local law enforcement agencies.

Operation Border Star is described by Governor Rick Perry’s Press Office as a “unified high intensity, multi-agency effort focused on reducing crime in targeted areas along the Texas-Mexico border.” It includes numerous state agencies such as the Texas Rangers, Texas Parks and Wildlife and others. It began in September 2007 following on the heels of two other special operations dating back to 2005 and 2006.

Madden said recently Border Star extends along the border in 42 counties from El Paso to McAllen and up the Coastal Bend. He declined to say how many units are working in the Del Rio area. Their numbers fluctuate depending on where intelligence reports indicate they are needed. He said they assist not only the sheriffs departments and local police departments, but state and federal agencies such as the U.S. Border Patrol.

The DPS officers are limited in the scope of their activities. “The Texas Highway Patrol is limited to enforcing state law. We can not enforce immigration law so we are not involved in that. The intent of the operation is to insure the quality of life in the border area,” he said.

While the operation is in progress, DPS patrols are heavily enforcing U.S. Highway 277 North of Del Rio, towards Sonora. What used to be a barren drive between the border patrol checkpoint just south of the U.S. Highway 277/377 crossroads to Texas Highway 55 22 miles south of Sonora, is more frequented by patrols. U.S. Highway 90 East, towards San Antonio also has patrol efforts stepped up.

One rumor that has been floating around town has them tied to anti-terrorism operations. When asked if that is the case, he said they are just pursuing their normal activity such as stolen vehicles and narcotic traffickers, but if they came across individuals who are involved in criminal activity or terrorism they would identify them and turn the information over to the appropriate agency. He said the DPS has not come across any terrorists.

As yet none of the people arrested by the various agencies involved in Border Star are involved in terrorism according to Allison Castle of the Governors Press Office. She said 500 illegal aliens from terrorist-related countries including Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran, Iraq, Yemen and Jordan have been arrested since Border Star and its predecessors began in 2005.

“We have seen extraordinary results – upwards of 65% reduction in all crime and a 45% reduction in illegal alien apprehension since 2005. She added, “Enforcing the international border is clearly a federal responsibility, but border states and communities suffer the consequences of a weak security. Therefore, Texas has taken decisive action to protect the border and the American homeland.”

She added Border Star began in high-threat areas and it will be expanded to continuous high-intensity surge operations along the entire Texas/Mexico border. Texas, she said, is disrupting smuggling operations, putting the cartels on notice and securing the border.

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