In a significant breakthrough, the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) has arrested multiple illegal immigrants wanted for serious crimes, including sexual assault of children. These arrests were made under Operation Lone Star, a border security initiative that has dramatically reduced illegal immigration into Texas by 87% over the past four years.
One of the major arrests occurred in Laredo, where DPS officers pulled over a 2011 International tractor-trailer for a traffic violation. The driver and several passengers fled the scene, but authorities swiftly took action. Among those arrested was 49-year-old Junior Adalid Montoya-Alvarez, a Honduran national with lawful permanent status. Initially charged with human smuggling, further investigations revealed he was also wanted in Harris County for sexual assault. Seven other illegal immigrants from Guatemala and Mexico were apprehended and handed over to Border Patrol.
In another case, DPS officers in Socorro arrested Carlos Daniel Espinoza-Arguello, a 26-year-old Venezuelan national, during a traffic stop. He was found to be wanted for sexual assault of a child and was immediately taken into custody. This arrest led law enforcement to a nearby stash house, where two additional Venezuelan illegal immigrants were detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Just days earlier, authorities in Sullivan City arrested 40-year-old Armando Alonso-Cortez, a Mexican national and a known flight risk. He was wanted by the Alton Police Department for sexually assaulting a child and was promptly transferred to their custody.
These high-profile arrests highlight the effectiveness of Operation Lone Star, launched in 2021 under Governor Greg Abbott. The initiative has resulted in over 500,000 illegal immigrant apprehensions, 50,000 criminal arrests, and the seizure of massive quantities of fentanyl. However, Abbott has criticized the federal government for failing to secure the border, stating Texas taxpayers have shouldered over $11.1 billion in costs that should have been covered by the federal administration.
As border security remains a hot-button issue, the demand for federal reimbursement continues to grow.
