Indy Standard

State Representatives J.D. Prescott and Jack Jordan, along with State Senator Jeff Raatz, visited the Texas southern border on November 17 for a briefing on Operation Lone Star. This initiative, led by Texas Governor Greg Abbott, aims to address illegal immigration, drug trafficking, and human smuggling. During their visit, the legislators took a helicopter tour of the border and witnessed an airboat demonstration on the Rio Grande River.

A report from the Homeland Security Committee noted over 10 million encounters with inadmissible aliens nationwide since the start of fiscal year 2021, with more than 8 million occurring at the southwest border. Representative Prescott highlighted the efforts of law enforcement professionals in protecting U.S. citizens and maintaining border security. "It was a great experience to join fellow legislators and see firsthand the work Texas border patrolmen are doing at the southern border," Prescott stated.

The Federation for American Immigration Reform reported that taxpayers have spent approximately $182 billion due to illegal immigration-related costs. This translates to an annual cost of $1,156 per taxpayer. Senator Raatz remarked on Indiana's indirect financial burden from illegal immigration despite not being a border state: "While this is not a new problem, it has increased exponentially in the last four years."

Representative Jordan emphasized the importance of federal government action regarding illegal crossings: "Our trip to the Texas border was an eye-opening journey as we were able to see border patrol actively protect our citizens with a safe, secure border."

For more information about U.S. Customs and Border Protection or details on illegal immigration issues, resources are available online through various governmental websites.