As President Trump’s border crackdown successfully reduces illegal crossings across most of Texas, desperate smugglers are shifting their operations to remote areas of Terrell County where rugged terrain makes surveillance nearly impossible.
At a Glance
- Texas is closing the Operation Lone Star jail facility in Jim Hogg County due to historically low illegal immigration attributed to President Trump’s border policies
- Sheriff Thaddeus Cleveland reports increased migrant activity in remote areas of Terrell County as smugglers adapt to stricter enforcement elsewhere
- Migrants, primarily from Mexico, are now traveling through dangerous desert regions without adequate food or water while wearing camouflage to avoid detection
- Illegal crossings across the southern border have dropped 94% from last year, with only 7,100 recorded last month
- Cleveland warns more resources are needed as smugglers shift operations to less patrolled areas
Border Security Success Leads to Facility Closure
The dramatic reduction in illegal border crossings under President Trump’s administration has allowed Texas to begin scaling back some enforcement operations. Governor Greg Abbott announced the closure of the Operation Lone Star jail booking facility in Jim Hogg County, which has seen a significant drop in activity. The facility, initially opened in 2022 to detain illegal immigrants arrested for border-related crimes, is being phased out this month as it’s no longer needed at current capacity.
The Jim Hogg County facility experienced a precipitous decline in average monthly bookings, from 67 in 2022 to just 26 last year. A second facility in Val Verde County, while also seeing decreased activity, will remain operational. Border Patrol arrests in January reached their lowest point since May 2020, with only 21,593 people apprehended for illegal crossings – a stark contrast to the record numbers seen under the previous administration.
Smugglers Adapt to Enforcement Pressure
While most border areas have experienced dramatic reductions in illegal crossings, Terrell County Sheriff Thaddeus Cleveland reports a concerning trend in his jurisdiction. Smugglers are increasingly guiding migrants through remote stretches of west Texas desert where surveillance is minimal and patrol resources are stretched thin. This rugged terrain, while dangerous for travelers, offers smugglers an opportunity to continue their operations despite intensified enforcement elsewhere.
Cleveland’s deputies have captured approximately 60 migrants in the last ten days alone in this remote region. These crossers, mainly from Mexico, are attempting to traverse the harsh landscape in groups, often wearing camouflage clothing to avoid detection. The sheriff noted that unlike asylum seekers who typically surrender to authorities, these migrants actively flee when encountered, indicating they’re not seeking political relief but rather attempting to enter undetected.
“Up until now we were slowing down, I think as the year progresses more activity will move out here because it’s wide open spaces,” Cleveland told The Post.
Dangers of Desert Crossings
The shift to remote border crossings presents life-threatening risks for migrants. Terrell County’s inhospitable desert terrain offers little access to food or water, and migrants must trek many miles on foot through extreme temperatures and challenging topography. Smugglers, increasingly desperate to maintain their operations as traditional crossing points become more heavily enforced, are willing to subject migrants to these dangerous conditions to avoid detection.
“President Trump has done his part along the border, now it’s time for Congress to do their part,” said Cleveland.
Despite the overall success in reducing border crossings, Sheriff Cleveland emphasizes that more resources are needed for border enforcement in these less-patrolled areas. He warns that as enforcement resources concentrate on high-traffic regions, smugglers will increasingly redirect their operations to vulnerable spots like Terrell County. This evolving challenge underscores the need for comprehensive border security that addresses both high-volume crossing points and the vast, difficult-to-patrol stretches in between.
Future Border Security Efforts
Texas has invested heavily in border security, with Operation Lone Star costing approximately $11 billion since its launch in 2021. Governor Abbott is seeking federal reimbursement for these expenditures and has requested an additional $6.5 billion for future border security operations. While closing some facilities, the state has offered the Jim Hogg County facility to the Trump Administration to support their continued border security operations.
As smugglers adapt their tactics, both federal and state authorities will need to remain vigilant and flexible in their approach to border enforcement. The success in reducing overall crossings demonstrates the effectiveness of President Trump’s policies, but the situation in Terrell County serves as a reminder that securing the entire 1,954-mile southern border requires continuous adjustment of resources and strategies to address evolving challenges and prevent exploitation of vulnerable areas.
