TEXAS — Another Texas National Guard soldier deployed as part of Gov. Greg Abbott’s Operation Lone Star border enforcement program has died. This death was described by the Guard as a “non-mission-related” incident, however.

What You Need To Know

  • The Texas Military Department reports a member of the Texas National Guard deployed as part of the state’s Operation Lone Star border enforcement program has died

  • The unidentified soldier’s death is under investigation but reports indicate it involved the accidental firing of his gun

  • This marks six deaths among soldiers involved in the state’s border enforcement program. Four are attributed to suicide and one involved an accident on New Year’s Day

  • Gov. Greg Abbott launched Operation Lone Star in March 2021 in response to what he called the Biden administration’s failure to address migrant border crossings. Democrats and civil rights groups have called for investigations into it

The cause of the unidentified soldier’s death remains under investigation, but according to a report from the Army Times, it involved the accidental firing of his personal weapon.

According to the Texas Military Department, the solider was airlifted to San Antonio after being injured in Brackettville, Texas, which is located southwest of San Antonio and about 30 miles from the border town of Del Rio, Texas.

This marks six soldier deaths tied to the Operation Lone Star program. Four deaths were attributed to suicide. One soldier accidentally killed himself on New Year’s Day.

“We are deeply saddened by this loss,” Maj. Gen. Tracy Norris, Adjutant General for the Texas Military Department, said of the latest death. “We are focused on supporting the Soldier’s family and are providing all available resources.”

Abbott, in a statement, offered condolences to the soldier’s family.

“The Texas National Guard plays an important role in our efforts to keep communities safe and we are grateful for their courage and commitment,” he said. “The Texas Rangers will conduct a thorough investigation into this tragedy and the Texas Military Department is taking action to ensure such loss of life never happens again.”

Launched in March 2021, Operation Lone Star involves a buildup of members of the Texas National Guard and the Texas Department of Public Safety at the Texas-Mexico border. According to Abbott, the program was prompted by the Biden administration’s failure to address the surge of migrant border crossings. 

However, it has come under a great deal of scrutiny. Civil rights groups, including the ACLU of Texas, as well as state and congressional Democrats, have called for the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security to investigate the program.