Border crossings in Texas have fallen to record lows this year. But even as demand for enforcement has dropped, state troopers dispatched to Gov. Greg Abbott’s border crackdown, Operation Lone Star, continue to rake in millions in overtime.

The Department of Public Safety is on track to spend about $77 million on Lone Star overtime this year. That would surpass what it spent in 2023, when crossings peaked and troopers were arresting thousands of migrants on trespassing and other state charges.

As of June, roughly 1 in 10 troopers were on track to double their annual pay through overtime. Ten brought home $10,000 or more on average in overtime each month, and 124 pulled in at least one monthly overtime payment of $10,000. While not all of that was from OLS, the crackdown now accounts for about a third of the agency’s total overtime spending annually.

More than a dozen troopers made over $200,000 last year when factoring in overtime, roughly equal to the starting salary for top public health doctors in the state. Two lieutenants netted more than $300,000. One of them, Lt. Kevin A. King, brought home $344,196 — nearly as much as former DPS Director Steve McCraw. Overtime accounted for two-thirds of King’s haul, and OLS shifts specifically about $93,000, according to DPS.

Residents in Eagle Pass, the epicenter of Operation Lone Star, say state troopers are less visible than they were a year ago. A city park that DPS commandeered during the height of the crackdown reopened months ago and was virtually empty on a recent afternoon. The only state troopers in the area appeared to be patrolling the highways.

The border patrol’s Del Rio sector, which includes Eagle Pass, saw just 474 apprehensions in July compared to 7,236 during the same time in 2024. In 2023, there were almost 25,000 apprehensions.

More here from reporters Benjamin Wermund and Matt Zdun. And catch Wermund on this week’s Texas Take Podcast, where he talks more about the overtime costs and the state of the Texas border.

​

Jeremy Wallace, Texas politics reporter jeremy.wallace@houstonchronicle.com

Who's Up, Who's Down

A daily stock market-style report on key players in Texas politics.

Up: Brandon Herrera.

The firearms manufacturer and YouTuber known to millions of fans as “The AK Guy,” is taking another shot at running for Congress in San Antonio. Herrera once again will challenge fellow Republican U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales in the 23rd Congressional District. In their 2024 GOP primary battle, Gonzales, now seeking his 4th term in office, won by less than 400 vote in a runoff battle against Herrera. “After the last race, I'll be honest, I thought I was done,” Herrera said in a video launching his new campaign. “But… I can't bow out of a fight if I know I can make a difference. It's just not how I'm wired.”

Down: Morgan Luttrell.

The Republican Congressman from Montgomery County announced on social media on Thursday that he will not seek re-election in 2026. Luttrell, 49, was first elected to Congress in 2022. “I’m not walking away from service, and I’m certainly not walking away from the fight,” Luttrell wrote on his social media accounts. “I’m choosing a different path – one that allows me to stay rooted in Texas and focus on the people and places that matter most.”

What do you think? Hit reply and let me know.

What else is going on in Texas

Photo by: Jay Janner, Austin American-Statesman Dan Patrick says Abbott's THC order legitimizes a 'dangerous' industry Patrick said the order banning retailers from selling to people under 21 would also set up a “massive taxpayer-funded program” to regulate the industry. Read More

Photo by: J. Scott Applewhite, AP Chip Roy calls for investigation of progressive groups in response Kirk's death Rep. Chip Roy cited work by individuals and groups including the billionaire investor George Soros, the Southern Poverty Law Center and the United Nations' International Organization for Migration. Read More

Photo by: Meredith Seaver, Associated Press Klein ISD fires employee over ‘senseless’ remarks about Charlie Kirk killing Klein ISD has announced the dismissal of an employee for remarks on the death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, days after his untimely passing.   Read More

Photo by: Melissa Phillip, Staff Photographer In reversal, Texas SBOE backs plan to deemphasize world history, cultures The plan, favored by conservative activists, greatly reduces the amount of time spent on world history and boosts that spent on Texas history. Read More

Photo by: Sam Owens, San Antonio Express-News What is Bexar County getting in return for helping the Spurs pay for an arena? Bexar County voters will head to the polls this fall to decide whether to raise visitor taxes to help pay for a new Spurs arena downtown. Read More

Pick of the day

Photo by: Susan Barber

We are back with a new episode of the Texas Take Podcast. This week reporter Samantha Ketterer joins me to talk about the political turmoil at Texas A&M University and how it connects to a larger movement by the Republican Party and championed by leaders like Vice President JD Vance and Gov. Greg Abbott targeting college campuses. We also look at the impact of conservative activist Charlie Kirk and how he became so influential. Plus, columnist Joy Sewing drops in to talk about the real world impact of Houston being without a member of Congress for nearly 200 days and former Houston astronaut Terry Virts explains why he’s running for the U.S. Senate.

What else I'm reading

One of the biggest employers in downtown Dallas may be moving to the suburbs. Nick Wooten of The Dallas Morning News reports that AT&T has been looking at suburban properties. AT&T occupies more than 2 million square feet downtown Dallas with about 6,000 employees assigned there as of 2022.

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