The $11 Billion Fortress: 5 Shocking Facts About Camp Lone Star, Texas's Controversial Border Base
The concept of "Camp Lone Star" has become synonymous with Texas’s unprecedented and controversial border security initiative, Operation Lone Star (OLS). As of late December 2025, the state continues to pour billions of dollars into a massive, state-run military mobilization designed to deter illegal migration and fortify the border with Mexico. This effort has culminated in the construction of a permanent, 80-acre Forward Operating Base (FOB) near Eagle Pass, which serves as the logistical heart for thousands of deployed troops, replacing the temporary, often criticized, living conditions of earlier "camps."
The facility, sometimes referred to by the evocative name "Camp Lone Star," represents a significant escalation in the state's role in border enforcement, a move that has drawn intense scrutiny from federal officials, human rights organizations, and even some members of the Texas National Guard themselves. The sheer scale and political implications of this operation make it one of the most significant domestic military deployments in recent U.S. history.
The Evolution of Operation Lone Star’s Border Infrastructure
Operation Lone Star (OLS) was officially launched by Texas Governor Greg Abbott in March 2021. Its stated goal is to combat illegal immigration and drug trafficking along the Texas-Mexico border. The operation involves a joint effort between the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) and the Texas Military Department (TMD), mobilizing thousands of Texas National Guard members and state troopers. The logistical challenge of housing and supporting this massive deployment led to the creation of several temporary and, eventually, permanent military installations.
From Temporary Shelters to a Permanent FOB
In the initial phases of OLS, troops were often housed in temporary, hastily erected facilities or in existing, sometimes inadequate, accommodations. Reports surfaced detailing poor living conditions, including sanitation issues, overcrowding, and lack of basic amenities, leading to low morale and high turnover among National Guard members. The need for a stable, high-capacity base became clear to sustain the long-term mission.
The solution was the construction of a massive, purpose-built military installation. While the name "Camp Lone Star" is often used to describe the entire infrastructure, the centerpiece of this effort is the new Forward Operating Base (FOB) in Eagle Pass, Maverick County. This base is strategically located near a major crossing point and the controversial installation of border buoys in the Rio Grande.
The transition to the permanent FOB marked a critical shift. The state moved away from relying on temporary housing solutions toward a long-term, self-sufficient military presence on the border. This decision underscored the Texas government's commitment to maintaining OLS indefinitely, regardless of federal policy changes.
5 Shocking Facts About the Camp Lone Star/Eagle Pass FOB
The sheer scale and cost of the Eagle Pass Forward Operating Base, the flagship facility of Operation Lone Star, have made it a national flashpoint. Here are key facts that highlight the base's significance and the controversy surrounding it:
- $11 Billion Price Tag: The overall cost of Operation Lone Star, which includes the construction and maintenance of the Eagle Pass FOB and other infrastructure, has surpassed $11 billion of Texas taxpayer money since its inception in 2021. This enormous expenditure makes it one of the most expensive state-level border security initiatives ever undertaken in the U.S.
- Massive Troop Capacity: The Eagle Pass FOB is designed to house and support up to 1,800 Texas National Guard troops when fully complete. The base is an 80-acre complex that provides barracks, dining facilities, medical services, and recreational areas, effectively creating a self-contained military city on the border.
- A Response to Living Condition Crises: The construction of the permanent base was a direct response to widespread reports of dismal living conditions in earlier, temporary camps. National Guard troops reported inadequate food, lack of proper sanitation, and poor housing, which contributed to a documented crisis of morale and a spate of deaths among deployed Guardsmen. The new FOB aims to drastically improve the quality of life for the deployed personnel.
- The Center of Political and Legal Battles: The Eagle Pass area, where the FOB is located, has been the epicenter of numerous legal and political disputes between the State of Texas and the Biden Administration. This includes the controversial use of concertina wire, the deployment of marine barriers (buoys) in the Rio Grande, and the state’s seizure of Shelby Park, a municipal park near the base, which has been used as a staging area for border operations.
- A Multi-State Effort: While primarily a Texas operation, OLS has seen support from other states. For instance, the Oklahoma National Guard and other state military units have periodically deployed to the Texas border in support of the operation, underscoring the political importance of the mission to Republican-led states.
The Broader Impact and Controversies of Operation Lone Star
The infrastructure of Camp Lone Star and Operation Lone Star is not just about housing troops; it is a physical manifestation of a state-level immigration enforcement policy that has faced relentless criticism on multiple fronts. The controversies extend beyond logistics and into legal and humanitarian domains.
Legal and Humanitarian Challenges
The operation has been criticized by civil rights organizations for its alleged discriminatory enforcement policies and for potentially infringing on federal authority over immigration matters. The ACLU and other groups have argued that the mission promotes misinformation and discrimination. Furthermore, the deployment has been linked to a number of tragedies. Since OLS began, at least 17 Texas National Guardsmen have died from various causes, including drowning and suicide, highlighting the immense stress and logistical failures associated with the massive mobilization.
Economic and Political Fallout
The enormous financial burden of OLS—the $11 billion expenditure—is a major point of contention. Critics argue that this funding is diverted from other desperately needed Texas state services. The operation has become a key political rallying point for Governor Abbott and his allies, who argue that the federal government has failed to secure the border, leaving Texas no choice but to act unilaterally. This political fireball continues to fuel the debate over state versus federal jurisdiction in border enforcement.
The construction of the Eagle Pass FOB, the functional heart of what is often called Camp Lone Star, solidifies Texas’s commitment to this long-term, high-cost, and high-stakes operation. It ensures a persistent military presence to maintain physical barriers like concertina wire and the controversial border buoys. As of late 2025, the base stands not just as a military post, but as a potent symbol of the ongoing, volatile conflict between the State of Texas and the federal government over control of the U.S. southern border.
Key Entities and Topical Authority:
- Operation Lone Star (OLS)
- Texas Military Department (TMD)
- Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS)
- Texas National Guard
- Governor Greg Abbott
- Forward Operating Base (FOB)
- Eagle Pass, Maverick County
- Rio Grande
- Border Buoys
- Concertina Wire
- Shelby Park
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)
- Biden Administration
- Human Rights Watch
- Interfaith Welcome Coalition
- Oklahoma National Guard
- Logistical Failures
- Military Mobilization
Detail Author:
- Name : Shany Rice II
- Username : bednar.jason
- Email : savanah09@wolff.com
- Birthdate : 1992-10-23
- Address : 590 Tavares Vista Apt. 985 Greenholtbury, IN 46525
- Phone : +1-650-741-7119
- Company : Becker and Sons
- Job : Host and Hostess
- Bio : Veritatis sint eius reprehenderit sunt consectetur quo sed quasi. Nihil adipisci consequatur odio aperiam. Nemo officiis sunt omnis quae.
Socials
tiktok:
- url : https://tiktok.com/@felix7539
- username : felix7539
- bio : Totam tenetur perferendis maxime ex laborum necessitatibus.
- followers : 6151
- following : 669
facebook:
- url : https://facebook.com/felix_conroy
- username : felix_conroy
- bio : Maiores et eos libero quod.
- followers : 210
- following : 934
twitter:
- url : https://twitter.com/felix.conroy
- username : felix.conroy
- bio : Aut deserunt aperiam et veritatis natus aut. Voluptas iusto velit consectetur laudantium libero. Eos beatae quisquam et optio.
- followers : 1651
- following : 204
instagram:
- url : https://instagram.com/conroy2021
- username : conroy2021
- bio : Omnis maxime ipsam tenetur blanditiis. Suscipit quibusdam et amet officiis tenetur.
- followers : 3402
- following : 2007
