Staff ReportsThe Battle of San Jacinto, fought on April 21, 1836, serves as a historical testament to the tenacity of Texans and their undying commitment to liberty. In a brisk 18 minutes, brave defenders overcame the Mexican Army, paving the way for the creation of the Texas Republic and, ultimately, the expansion of the United States westward. Leading the charge was none other than General Sam Houston, a man whose bond with Jesse Lindsey McCrocklan was so strong that Houston stood as McCrocklan’s best man at his wedding. Fast forward to today, and it’s clear that the spirit of those liberty-seeking fighters is alive and well in Texas, especially as Governor Greg Abbott takes on the Biden administration over border security through Operation Lone Star.
While Abbott is busy defending Texas sovereignty, dozens of states stand in solidarity with him, much like the warriors who went to the Alamo – a historical site synonymous with sacrifice and the relentless pursuit of freedom. The fight continues on multiple fronts, including the way the federal government mishandles border security. Enter Prosser Martin Wall, a modern-day guardian of Texas, who resides a stone’s throw from the Mexican border. Wall has been defending his property against a relentless wave of illegal border crossers, a consequence of the Biden administration’s policies that have left ranchers and innocent residents in a lurch.
Texas National Guard soldiers patrol and establish overwatch positions in an area known as Rock Wall near El Paso.
Patrols effectively contributed to the significant decrease in illegal crossings into Texas. pic.twitter.com/7VTM2TxlD6
— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) November 29, 2024
In Wall’s neck of the woods in Maverick County, patterns have emerged that would baffle even the most dedicated statistician. For 17 consecutive months, the Del Rio Sector became renowned not for its captivating landscapes but for being the hotspot of “gotaways” – those sneaky individuals who make a run for it after crossing the border. Wall recounts a staggering 300 trespassers slipping onto his property daily, starkly transforming once-thriving fields into a barren wasteland. The livestock and crops that previously flourished have become mere memories as the chaos unfolds.
His property, once a beautiful piece of Texas land, has turned into Ground Zero in a battle against lawlessness that leaves no room for defending one’s rights or property. Wall’s accounts of the unwanted visitors have an air of horror: from vandalized property and stolen vehicles to near-constant damage to fences that were once part of an efficient farming operation. The situation escalated to a point where he was unable to even utilize his land, which he is still paying for. All this occurred in the shadow of a federal government, which seems more interested in funding foreign countries than securing borders and protecting American livelihoods.
Despite a lack of help from Washington, D.C., Texas has rallied. The National Guard and other law enforcement officers have stepped up to fortify the borders, creating barriers to deter illegal entry. Wall’s family has turned into unwitting frontline defenders in this ongoing saga, dealing with the consequences of a border crisis that many have all but ignored. Fortunately, they have found a lifeline in their state leadership, and Wall expresses gratitude for Abbott’s robust response. He asserts that without Abbott’s intervention, his town would have been entirely overwhelmed, and daily life would be unrecognizable – a stark depiction of the chaos brought on by the current administration’s failures.
Wall’s story serves as a microcosm of the larger narrative of frustration among Texans who feel abandoned by their government. With a history steeped in independence and resilience, Texans recognize that every dark chapter can be followed by a more hopeful one. As the tides of this border crisis continue to characterize modern-day challenges, it’s more than evident that Texas’s best and brightest will continue standing firm, just as their ancestors did at San Jacinto. So, while certain folks in Washington continue their endless meetings and photo ops, Texans are on the ground, ensuring that the Lone Star State remains a beacon of hope and independence amid a sea of bureaucratic chaos.
