Rio Grande City, United States - February 21, 2025 In a gripping showdown along the Texas border, the Texas Department of Public Safety (TxDPS) Brush Teams, working hand-in-hand with the US Border Patrol, swooped in to apprehend multiple illegal immigrants desperately trying to slip through Starr and Hidalgo Counties. The dramatic arrests, unfolding between February 19 and 20, showcased the raw power of a beefed-up border security operation designed to clamp down on unlawful crossings. This unified effort has turbocharged detection and deterrence, proving Texas means business in its unrelenting mission to secure the frontier. The beefy presence of state and federal law enforcement, paired with military muscle, is sending shockwaves through transnational criminal networks, making sneaking across the border a high-stakes gamble with brutal consequences. In a jaw-dropping revelation, one captured immigrant from Honduras spilled the beans to troopers, admitting he shelled out a staggering $18,000 to a cartel for a shot at reaching New Jersey. His costly bid for freedom crumbled under the iron grip of this enhanced operation, spotlighting the steep price and slim odds of outrunning the law. As Texas doubles down, the message is crystal clear, crossing illegally just got a whole lot tougher.