EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) – A report by the Human Rights Watch condemns the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) for acting “recklessly” in high-speed pursuits of vehicles suspected of smuggling migrants.
The report describes the pursuits as “dangerous” and “deadly,” reporting that 74 people have been killed, and 189 people have been injured as a result of 49 Texas DPS pursuits in the 29-months since the launch of Operation Lone Star, through July of 2023.
Seven bystanders have been killed in that span according to the report, with one of them being a seven-year old girl.
The report details multiple cases of Texans either losing their lives, or suffering significant property damage.
Democrat Congresswoman Veronica Escobar expressed her concerns regarding Texas DPS pursuits.
“And it’s not just been the human carnage that we’ve seen as a result of their high speed chases, but also property damage and the risk, the tremendous risk that it brings to other drivers as well and other potential loss of life,” Escobar said.
Telemundo (KTDO) and KTSM obtained a report by Texas DPS that shows no deaths have occurred in 56 crashes resulting from Texas DPS pursuits, during fiscal year 2023.
Skeptical of the report, Escobar questioned the transparency from Texas DPS.
“It would be absolutely unconscionable for DPS to claim that there have been no fatalities related to their high speed chases. We in El Paso and other border communities, we know the truth,” she said.
Republican Congressman Tony Gonzales sent a statement to KTSM regarding DPS pursuits:
“High-speed chases are all too common across border communities. Many of them have resulted in the loss of innocent lives. Our law enforcement officers are not to blame for doing their duty to protect the public — the blame lies solely with the criminals engaging in illegal activity resulting in these chases. The root of the issue is that human smugglers are not being given a punishment that fits the crime. In September, I worked with Congressman Juan Ciscomani (AZ-06) to introduce a new bill that would increase penalties for anyone who engages in a high-speed chase with Border Patrol or other law enforcement agencies that are supporting border operations. If our legislation gets signed into law, failure to yield to Border Patrol and law enforcement would be a felony crime.”
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