TEXAS — As Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s multibillion-dollar border security effort, Operation Lone Star, faces increased scrutiny, a group of Democratic lawmakers in Congress, led by progressive Texas representatives Jasmine Crockett and Greg Casar, is calling for federal oversight.

What You Need To Know

  • A group of Democratic lawmakers led by Texas representatives Jasmine Crockett and Greg Casar sent a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland calling for federal oversight of Texas’ controversial Operation Lone Star border security program

  • Operation Lone Star includes deterrents such as razor wire and a floating buoy barrier in the Rio Grande. Migrants have been injured by the wire. It also includes the busing of migrants to Democrat-led cities, including Los Angeles and Chicago

  • Texas Gov. Greg Abbott says the measures are needed because of President Joe Biden's "refusal" to secure the southern border 

  • The letter says Operation Lone Star violates people's civil rights and has led to dozens of deaths 

“We write to express concern over the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) lack of federal public reporting and delayed action investigating civil rights violations and urge DOJ to take greater action prosecuting violations of federal law committed by Texas state authorities under Governor Greg Abbott’s Operation Lone Star (OLS),” a Dec. 4 letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland reads.

Operation Lone Star includes razor wire placed along the banks of the Rio Grande, a floating buoy barrier in the river, and the busing of migrants to Democrat-led cities including Los Angeles, Chicago, Denver and New York.

The Biden administration is challenging Texas on the concertina wire fence and buoys. Some state troopers have raised concerns over the multiple injuries caused by razor wire. Texas was recently granted a stay temporarily prohibiting Border Patrol from cutting the wire in Eagle Pass.

According to a recent UT Austin poll, a slim majority of Texans — 52% — support buoys and razor wire being used to prevent migration, while 40% were opposed.

“Despite the egregious and recurring abuses spanning almost two years, we are concerned over the lack of remedial and preventive actions taking place at the federal level,” the letter reads. “We recognize DOJ’s efforts to challenge and remove the illegal buoys installed in the Rio Grande River as part of OLS—barriers OLS—barriers that pose significant safety concerns and that likely violate multiple bilateral treaties between the United States and Mexico, including the Boundary Treaty of 1970 and the Mexican Water Treaty of 1944.”

Abbott has repeatedly defended his actions, saying they are needed because of President Joe Biden “refusal” to secure the southern border.

Lawmakers’ letter to Garland also addresses a bill that recently passed the Texas Legislature and which Abbott said he will sign in two weeks.

 Senate Bill 4 would allow state police to arrest migrants, even if officers are nowhere near the border. It would also give local judges the power to order migrants to leave the U.S. if they enter the country illegally.

“…the recent movement of H.B. 4 in the Texas Legislature—which would criminalize entering the state illegally from Mexico and allow police officers to detain, transport, and order migrants and asylum-seekers to return to Mexico—continues to illustrate the consequences of states violating federal law,” the Democratic lawmakers wrote.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.