Operation Lone Star Defense Program
About OLS
In March 2021, Governor Abbott launched Operation Lone Star (OLS), a $10 billon border security program that deployed the Texas National Guard and state and local law enforcement to the Texas/Mexico border to assist local and federal authorities in “prevent[ing] criminal activity along the border.”
Individuals arrested under OLS face criminal prosecution by the State. The vast majority of individuals have been charged with misdemeanor criminal trespass and face up to 1 year in custody. All of these individuals are immigrants, many of whom are asylum-seekers.
The second most common charge is for felony smuggling of persons. As of February 2024, individuals charged with this crime face a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison.
LSDO's Services
Our office serves as the indigent defense hub for Operation Lone Star. Through a grant from the Texas Indigent Defense Commission, LSDO is responsible for overseeing the criminal defense representation provided to indigent individuals facing OLS charges. We assign counsel to cases, and providing support and resources to defense attorneys.
We appoint cases to public defender offices like Texas Rio Grande Public Defender, to LSDO staff attorneys, as well as to our panel of private defense attorneys. The attorneys who are taking appointments are listed here.
Currently, LSDO appoints counsel in OLS cases arising out of 9 counties:
These counties have given LSDO the authority to appoint counsel in OLS cases. This authority stems from each county's Indigent Defense Plans, which you can view by clicking the name of the county above. You can find the fee schedule here.