Southwest
Texas Gov. Abbott orders DPS tactical strike teams to assist federal illegal immigration enforcement efforts
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott directed the state’s Department of Public Safety (DPS) tactical strike teams to assist with the Trump administration’s operation to locate and arrest criminal illegal immigrants statewide.
“Texas is expanding our operations to assist President Donald Trump to protect Americans and enforce the rule of law,” Abbott said Tuesday. “Today, I directed the Texas Department of Public Safety to deploy tactical strike teams to work alongside our federal partners to enforce immigration laws throughout the state.
“These teams will coordinate with Homeland Security agencies to track down the thousands of illegal immigrants with active warrants across Texas and deport them from our country,” Abbott added. “After four years of failed policies, Texas finally has a partner in President Trump. Together, we will end this crisis and make America safe once again.”
Abbott’s office said DPS tactical strike teams will work with the Homeland Security Task Force to utilize personnel and resources in order to identify and arrest the nearly 5,400 illegal immigrants with active warrants from across Texas.
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Texas Gov. Greg Abbott looks on during a news conference. (Brandon Bell/Getty Images)
The order comes just days after Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis announced that her department will not assist federal agents with civil immigration enforcement efforts.
Austin PD did not respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment on the matter.
Austin City Council member Vanessa Fuentes praised the chief’s statement as she spoke about the feedback she had received from the community about U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement operations.
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Texas DPS with illegal immigrants from Central and South America at the southern border. (Texas DPS)
“We have a lot of members that are scared right now with the extent of ICE being in and operating in the Austin area, and to what extent that impact will have on our immigrant community,” Fuentes told Austin’s NBC station KXAN during an interview. “I’m really proud that our police chief came out with her statement on Friday that confirmed that Austin police have not and will not enforce any federal civil immigration.”
Fuentes said it was nice to know police officers would be focused on solving crime instead of participating in a “new type” of ICE raids in Austin.
She also said it was important for her, as a local policymaker, to let the community know about their rights by providing training and workshops with community partners.
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Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis said her department will not assist federal agents with civil immigration enforcement efforts. (Reuters/Sergio Flores)
Libs of TikTok called out Fuentes for her stance on police not helping with federal enforcement of illegal immigration.
“Austin, Texas City Council member and Mayor Pro Tem Vanessa Fuentes, says local police won’t enforce federal immigration law or help ICE with raids,” the group posted on X, while tagging Trump border czar Tom Homan.
“Yeah, and?” Fuentes responded, doubling down on the issue.
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Still, the Austin American-Stateman reported on Monday that ICE arrests were conducted in Austin over the weekend, and in response, Davis contacted federal officials about the operations. She was told by federal officials the operation targeted “wanted violent offenders.”
She also told the publication that even though Austin police officers were not involved in the raids, “these are people APD would be looking for as well. They were wanted for violent offenses.”
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Jurors deliberating the fate of the man accused of starting the Palisades Fire, one of the most destructive wildfires in California’s history, failed to reach a verdict Thursday afternoon, telling the judge they were deadlocked.
A spokesperson from the United States Attorney’s Office told KTLA that jurors will continue to deliberate until they reach a verdict or give up.
Jonathan Rinderknecht, 30, a former Uber driver and one-time Pacific Palisades resident, is accused of starting the Lachman Fire on New Year’s Eve. The fire continued to smolder underground for about a week, even after Los Angeles firefighters believed it had been extinguished.
Flames reignited on Jan. 7, erupting into the deadly Palisades Fire that killed 12 people and destroyed thousands of homes in the upscale community, authorities said.
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A courtroom sketch of Jonathan Rinderknecht, 29, during his initial court appearance on Oct. 23, 2025. (Bill Robles) -
The U.S. Dept. of Justice booking photo of Jonathan Rinderknecht over the Palisades Fire devastation in Malibu, California in January 2025 (AP).
Prosecutors argued that Rinderknecht deliberately set the fire, claiming he had grown increasingly resentful of wealthy residents and viewed Pacific Palisades as a symbol of that frustration.
“Their case, though circumstantial, is strong,” KTLA legal analyst Alison Triessl said. “The defense is relying on, can they (prosecutors) show beyond a reasonable doubt that Mr. Rinderknecht actually started this fire and it wasn’t the result of fireworks or some intervening cause.”
The defense argued there is no direct physical evidence tying Rinderknecht to the fire and said the prosecution’s case relies entirely on circumstantial evidence. Rinderknecht did not testify during the trial.
Defense attorney Steve Haney spoke outside the courthouse Wednesday about why he believes it will be difficult for prosecutors to prove how the fire started.
“The lack of scene preservation. The fact that they got there after a lot of the evidence was missing. Not a lot of direct evidence. This is a circumstantial case, which is always difficult as a prosecutor to prove,” Haney said.
Rinderknecht, who was arrested and indicted last October, faces up to 45 years in prison if found guilty of three arson counts, including destruction of property by means of fire, arson affecting property used in interstate commerce and timber set afire.
Tony Kurzweil contributed to this report
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