Texas law enforcement, under Gov. Greg Abbott’s Operation Lone Star, continues to apprehend illegal border crossers using specialized units including K-9 teams and the newly established Border Mounted Patrol Unit (BMPU). The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) recently graduated nine new K-9 teams trained to track human scent across difficult terrains, aiding in multiple apprehensions of illegal immigrants involved in smuggling and other crimes. The BMPU, celebrating its first year, uses trained horses and troopers to patrol remote border areas inaccessible by vehicles, providing critical support to DPS brush teams and federal agents.

The K-9 and BMPU units focus on tracking “gotaways”—illegal crossers who evade capture between ports of entry and do not make immigration claims. These teams have successfully apprehended individuals with extensive criminal histories, highlighting their role in combating border-related crime. The BMPU troopers undergo rigorous training, including through U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s National Horse Patrol Program, ensuring effective operations in challenging and sensitive terrains. Together, these units enhance Texas’s border security efforts by covering vast and rugged areas that would otherwise remain vulnerable to transnational criminal activity.