FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, July 21, 2023
Contact: (956)432-3193, danim@lupenet.org

La Unión del Pueblo Entero calls on the federal government to take additional steps to immediately halt Texas’ Operational Lonestar.

On July 21, The Department of Justice announced it will sue Texas Gov. Greg Abbot for the creation of a buoy border barrier, as reported by The Houston Chronicle. Earlier this week, The Houston Chronicle reported border officers were instructed to deny migrants water and push children into the Rio Grande to prevent them from safely seeking asylum. 

In response, Dani Marrero Hi, deputy director of La Unión del Pueblo Entero, said:

“We welcome the Department of Justice suing Gov. Greg Abbott for his illegal and violent border enforcement tactics. For years, Texas advocates have sounded the alarm and called on the federal government to intervene on the harm Abbott is inflicting on people at the border.

We hope this is only the first step from the federal government to put an immediate halt on Abbott’s Operation Lonestar and change course on the treatment of asylum-seekers. The Department of Homeland Security should cease to collaborate with Texas’ illegal and racist border operations. The White House should stop endorsing deterrence tactics that ignore the humanitarian needs of children, families, and individuals at the border. Policies that do not take into account human needs and human rights are bound to fail, causing more harm to people seeking safety.

For generations, South Texans have modeled the values of welcoming people with dignity and protecting the vulnerable. We extend a helping hand to our neighbors and newcomers by showing up and providing humanitarian aid during moments of crisis. We expect our government to lead with these same values— not violence and callousness.”

To arrange virtual interviews with representatives of LUPE, contact (956) 432-3193 or danim@lupenet.org. Interviews available in English and Spanish.