‘Expensive Political Stunt’: CBS Lashes Out at Texas Securing Border

The following is the Thursday schedule CBS Mornings smeared the effort by Texas Governor Greg Abbott to secure the U.S. southern border using state law enforcement and National Guard troops as an “expensive political stunt.” The network broadcast seemed puzzled by why Texas would have to step in to stem the flow of illegal immigration, as if reporters were completely unaware of the Biden administration’s massive failure on the border.

“The Texas/Mexico border is seeing record numbers of migrants trying to cross into the U.S. and start a new life. More than 221,000 people crossed the Southwest Land Border in March according to border officials. That is nearly 28% more than last March,” fill-in co-host Jamie Yuccas explained as she introduced the segment at the top of the 7:30 a.m. ET Half hour.

Yuccas was concerned despite clearly stating the severity of the problem. “Texas Governor Greg Abbott says he launched Operation Lone Star last year to respond to these big increases in crossings. The project diverts billions of dollars in state taxpayer money toward border protection.”

Reporting live from the Texas/Mexico border, correspondent Lilia Luciano immediately touted “critics” attacking the law enforcement operation:

So, the two-day trip was a success. We traveled the border via land, air and water. You will gain a greater understanding of the operation and how it works. Why is Texas spending $3 billion on taxpayer-funded efforts which are almost entirely under the control of the federal government? This, critics say, is a political stunt that Governor Greg Abbott has called expensive.The Governor however, says it is essential to protect the border.

Luciano observed: “Because the federal government, and not states, have the power to enforce immigration law, state troopers in Lieutenant Alvarez’s team can only arrest people for trespassing onto certain private ranches they reach across the border.”

Olivarez explained: “The primary goal of the mission is to stop the criminal activity from taking place, from entering the state of Texas and making it further into the interior.” Luciano lectured: “That sounds a lot like border enforcement….But that’s not up to states, that’s up to the federal government.”

Olivarez pointed out that Luciano had been avoiding the obvious. “Well, but one thing to understand is that Operation Lone Star is a comprehensive border strategy because the federal government has failed to take any type of action or have a strategy in place to stop some of the criminal activity.”

“But given the high number of crossings, that deterrence strategy may not be working,” Luciano proclaimed. After crossing illegally, Luciano sympathized and assisted migrants being apprehended in Texas by the DPS.

LUCIANO: It’s your fourth attempt to make it in this month. Why keep coming?

UNIDENTIFIED MASTER [ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT]: Because it’s very in Mexico.

LUCIANO: They told us they weren’t intending to commit crimes and all they have left is that and a broken dream. This is your end. You are now asking yourself: What did that dream mean? To provide for your family. To ensure your family’s future.

CBS finally saw the problem at the southern border, after the other networks’ evening newscasts had largely ignored it in March.

CBS mocks Texas efforts to do the same thing the Biden administration refuses to do. The content was shown to viewers via Comcast and Google. This is your chance to fight back.

You can find the complete transcript here of the April 21 segment.

7:30 AM ET  

JAMIE YUCCAS – Record numbers of immigrants are trying to enter the United States from Mexico at the Texas/Mexico border. More than 221,000 people crossed the border along southwest land borders in March according to border officials. This is almost 28% more than in March last year.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott stated that Operation Lone Star, which he started last year in response to the large increase in cross-border crossings, was his first initiative. This project will divert billions in taxpayer dollars to border protection.

Lilia Luciano rode with the Texas Department of Public Safety along the border to assess the effectiveness of the operation. This morning, she’s in Mission, Texas, in the Rio Grande Valley. Lia – Lilia, rather – good morning.

LILIA LUCIANO: Hello Jamie. The last two days were spent on the border, by air, land and water. We wanted to understand how Operation Lone Star operates and why Texas spends $3 billion per year. Critics of Governor Greg Abbott call this a political stunt. The Governor insists that the necessary steps are needed to protect the border.

[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: Inside Operation Lone Star; CBS News Rides Along With Texas’ Controversial Border Program]

Which direction are you going?

LT. CHRIS OLIVAREZ [TEXAS DEPT. OF PUBLIC SAFETY]: So now we’re just – one of the troopers got an alert on a camera that went off. So that’s what we responding to, to another ranch.

LUCIANO: That’s Lieutenant Chris Olivarez of the Texas Department of Public Safety. His team’s mission, Operation Lone Star. It’s a state-run, taxpayer-funded operation Governor Greg Abbott launched last March to deter migrants from crossing the border.

OLIVAREZ: For the most part, you know, a lot of them that we’ve talked to, they say they’re trying to get to San Antonio or Houston and looking for work. Of course, there are criminals within these groups.

LUCIANO: Because the federal government, and not states, have the power to enforce immigration law, state troopers in Lieutenant Alvarez’s team can only arrest people for trespassing onto certain private ranches they reach across the border. Using choppers, boats –  Mexico is right there –

Unidentified OFFICER [TEXAS DEPT. OF PUBLIC SAFETY]: Yeah, can’t miss it.

LUCIANO: Cameras on the ground and drones to help coordinate places

UNIDENTIFIED 2 OFFICER [TEXAS DEPT. OF PUBLIC SAFETY]: They’re headed east. Yeah, they’re headed towards us.
 
LUCIANO : The men were taken into custody and accused of trespassing.

OLIVAREZ: Being out there, being able to make these apprehensions, and also keep the ranchers safe, that’s the most important thing.

LUCIANO: So it’s kind of a security for the ranchers?

OLIVAREZ : Not just for ranchers but for all Americans. We know that they are leaving Texas.

LUCIANO

OLIVAREZ : More than 200,000 migrants have been apprehended so far. They’ve arrested more than 11,000, including cartel members, drug smugglers, and cop killers.

LUCIANO Operation Lone Star, which costs Texas taxpayers approximately $2.5million per week, is still in operation. The program has seen 10,000 members of the Texas National Guard deployed to assist in arrests at the border. There is no end in sight.

Some private property owners still have their say. Private property owners built the entire wall. The owner of this land built it up, and on the ends of the wall, in the gaps, that’s where DPS and the Texas National Guard are surveilling.

DPS boats with heavy weaponry are stationed along the Rio Grande River.

OLIVAREZ : Our primary mission is to end criminal activity in Texas, and prevent it from spreading further into Texas.

LUCIANO – That sound a lot like border enforcement.

OLIVAREZ: Right.

LUCIANO: But that’s not up to states, that’s up to the federal government.

OLIVAREZ

LUCIANO: However, this deterrence strategy might not work due to the large number of cross-border crossings. It is your fourth attempt to arrive in the country this month. Why keep coming back?

UNIDENTIFIED MASTER [ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT]: Because it’s very in Mexico.

LUCIANO: They told us they weren’t intending to commit crimes and all they have left is that and a broken dream. This is your end. You are now asking yourself: What did that dream mean? To provide for your family. To ensure your family’s future.

Having done these ride-alongs now for years along the border with Border Patrol, I was struck by the massive number of troopers that are deployed from all over Texas into just a handful of counties to do these trespassing arrests within only the ranches that they’re permitted to by the owners. So you have to wonder if they’re not there – they still have to call Border Patrol whether they encounter asylum seekers or in areas that they’re not authorized – you have to wonder if they weren’t there, would Border Patrol be the ones to just come in and detain the same number of people. Tony?

TONY DOKOUPIL : Yes. Meanwhile, it’s costing the state of Texas $3 billion. These boats come with hefty price tags and some very powerful guns. Lilia thank you so much for this eye-opening article.