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Rep. Stan Lambert| Abilene Reporter-News

Earlier in the year, I had the opportunity to visit our border.

There is much to say about what I saw, but a quote from President Ronald Reagan speaks to many of my thoughts and concerns: Our country is great because it is built on principles of self-reliance, opportunity, innovation, and compassion for others.

The issues surrounding our southern border and our current immigration crisis are significant and multi-faceted, encompassing foreign policy, national security, state sovereignty and countless more.

But at a more basic level, what worries me most is the human suffering that is occurring. People are being killed, trafficked, and abused. Folks that live along the border are scared and their property is being damaged. They deserve the same protection and level of safety we have in House District 71 or anywhere else in Texas.

But those fleeing their home countries also deserve to be safe. So as a lawmaker, my dilemma is how do we protect all individuals affected by this crisis and how much burden and resources do Texans share with our federal partners and other countries?

In total, my team and I have made 10trips to the Texas/Mexico Border since 2015 (five to the Rio Grande Valley, three to Big Bend and two to El Paso). What we have seen cannot be unseen and what we have heard cannot be unheard. It is hard to convey the inhumane conditions we have witnessed, the haunting testimony of those who are victims of human trafficking, the pallets upon pallets of counterfeit goods, large quantities of illegal substances and the pleas of law enforcement begging us to secure the border.

To all those affected, and to me, it is about safety. Safety for all Texans and safety for law enforcement. But equally as important, safety for those seeking to enter our country. I wanted you to know what I saw and heard on my most recent trip.

People who live and work near the border say the 2021 surge of immigrants crossing into Texas has significantly increased. Dealing with threats to their personal safety, the draining of local governmental and community resources causes serious financial losses and disruption. Fences sometimes are cut as migrants move across agricultural land. High speed chases destroy property and lives.

Residents report widespread vandalism. Theft rates are rising. Trash and other unattended items left by the immigrants become the responsibility of these landowners. The rights of these citizens and landowners are being trampled.

It is clear to me, through many meetings with the Department of Public Safety, that those charged with securing our border share the concerns of residents in south Texas. There are six Mexican cartels that control areas of access into Texas, and violent gangs transport illicit drugs and traffic people, operate stash houses, conduct enforcement operations, and provide retail drug distribution throughout Texas.

On March 4, Gov.Greg Abbott announced Operation Lone Star (OLS). On May 31, Abbott issued a disaster declaration concerning border security. In response, the Legislature passed House Bill 9(HB9) during the second special session. HB9 gives Abbotts office more than $1 billion, with about $750 million dedicated to construct border barriers. This is in addition to the $250 million that was already budgeted in the regular session.

In the most recent reports on OLS, DPS reports 5,298 criminal arrests and completed 694 vehicle pursuits (up 774% in Del Rio alone). Additionally, from March 4 through Sept. 8, DPS has arrested 199 known gang members.

From October 2020 through September 2021, there have been a record number of migrant apprehensions and referrals in Texas, totaling more than 1.1 million people. The previous record was just more than 726,000 in 1986.

As I work with my colleagues to pursue solutions to this crisis, I hope we can all keep the following in mind, as these issues have been weighing heavy on my heart:

I ask for your prayers for discernment as we workto help alleviate the border crisis and its widespread effects.

Rep. Stan Lambert represents Texas House District 71.

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Legislators working to address the border crisis - Abilene Reporter-News