The Texas Supreme Court’s decision to end state-funded legal defense for illegal immigrants marks another clear step toward Texas reasserting control over its own affairs. Starting May 1, Texas will no longer provide taxpayer-funded defense attorneys for illegal aliens captured during Operation Lone Star – a change that highlights the shifting priorities in our state’s approach to border security.
This development comes at a critical moment for Texas sovereignty. Since 2021, our state has shouldered massive costs defending illegal immigrants through the Texas Indigent Defense Commission (TIDC), with taxpayers funding over $37 million in grants to the Lone Star Defender’s Office. The Federal Government’s failure to secure our border forced Texas to step in with Operation Lone Star, but we’ve been paying twice – first for enforcement, then for defending those who broke our laws.
The numbers tell the story of why this program is ending. According to TIDC data, cases dropped from 1,190 in early 2024 to just 168 in early 2025 – an 85% decrease that proves the effectiveness of state-led border enforcement when properly implemented. The simple truth is that Texas resources should serve Texas interests first.
What’s particularly striking about this situation is how it exemplifies the broader case for Texas independence. When the Federal Government abandoned its constitutional duty to protect our border, Texas had to create its own solutions. Yet even then, federal courts and activist organizations attempted to obstruct our efforts. The Lone Star Defender’s Office – while receiving Texas taxpayer money – actually sued to stop Operation Lone Star, taking their case all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court.
This pattern repeats itself across every aspect of our relationship with the Federal Government. Texas innovates, Texas pays, Texas solves – and then federal interference hampers our ability to protect our own interests. The end of this program represents one small but important step toward Texas controlling its own destiny.
As the TNM has long maintained, Texas possesses all the necessary elements to function as an independent nation. Our economy, our resources, and our people’s determination make self-governance not just possible but essential. The winding down of federal-style programs like state-funded illegal immigrant defense shows how Texas can chart its own course when given the chance.
The time has come for Texans to ask themselves: How many more examples do we need of federal overreach and mismanagement before we recognize that independence is the logical next step? Every instance of Texas solving Texas problems with Texas solutions strengthens the case for TEXIT. The end of this particular program may be a small change, but it points toward a larger truth – Texas works better when Texas decides.
