operation lone star national guard pay

On October 22, Coleman told staff in an email that TMD also contacted the Governors office and said that there was something about the current process taking a while for personnel to get their first check and the General was worried about what personnel might start saying publicly., Since a letter was sent to the Comptroller and the Governors office reached out to us, Exec is interested in knowing about this activity., On October 25, Alice Alvarado, manager of the comptrollers Statewide Fiscal Systems Department, emailed Coleman that First Lt. Hohmann does not have a current payment processed, and the last payment processed for him was on March 5, 2021., He is not included on any of the payrolls that failed Friday night due to the Outbound being run twice, Alvarado responded, adding that she had asked Danette McWilliams (who was formerly with TMD but had been transferred to the comptroller) to look into the situation and inform TMD of the 280 [soldiers] in total missing their payments. Alvarado commented, There appears to be an internal disconnect at TMD.. We are also aware of high turnover at TMD., McWilliams replied to Alvarado on October 25 at 8:16 a.m. I just checked on the three payrolls that failed for TMD and there were a total of 82 payments that did not process, she wrote. The governor and DPS have also claimed that over 700 gang or cartel members have been caught. The majority of those arrests have been misdemeanor trespassing charges of migrants crossing the border into private property. Greg Abbott in March of 2021 launched, Adjutant General of the Texas National Guard, Congressman Launches New Push for Border Safety and Security Act, Texas Congressman Files Articles of Impeachment Against DHS Secretary, Grassroots Organization Prioritizes Ending Benefits for Illegal Aliens, Always trustworthy, with the facts in context, Relentlessly pro-citizen, unabashedly pro-liberty. But I know soldiers who dont [and] we havent heard anything about anything for tax relief.. Greg Abbott could be stuck paying hundreds or even thousands of dollars in unexpected federal taxes The driver was arrested and charged with human smuggling. Specialized Task Force Arrests Two Guides Crossing Six Illegal Immigrants. And crossings are only expected to rise with the coming end to Title 42. The Biden administration has not publicly acted on the complaints, and thousands of migrants have been held in state prisons converted into jails for immigration-related crimes. Significant Challenges for the Texas state National Guard. Their instructions are to prevent criminal Abbot began his border initiative, Operation Lone Star (OLS), in March of last year; since then the operation has grown to be the most expensive investment by Texas in in border security, having increased state spending from $110 million in 2007 to $3 billion as of last year. Were now not going to use Texas, said Mexican Economy Minister Tatiana Clouthier at a conference on April 28 in Mexico City. Over 400 personnel and 40 vehicles were repositioned We dont have any additional information outside of the emails weve provided you, Lyons replied seven days later. A sergeant estimated that he could face a $3,000 tax bill. Later that month, Abbott directed 1,000 DPS personnel and 400 more Texas National Guard members to the border in response to the sudden arrival of 16,000 migrants in Del Rio. Rodriguez added that he supports soldiers addressing their pay issues outside the chain of command if their typical administrative avenues arent helpful. DPS troopers and Texas National Guard troops have been deployed to 48 Texas counties covered by a state disaster declaration. On October 13, anywhere from 500 to 1,000 TNG forces were expected to be deployed to border counties. In fact, last year saw the US Border Patrols highest rate of apprehensions since records began in the 1970s. . Another service member said he estimated he would pay $1,000. Many of those called up after November came to the mission involuntarily. Yes. If an invasion declaration were to occur one could expect even more border initiatives like Operation Lone Star. Hunter Schuler, who was a leading voice among the troops who tried to unionize in the spring, said he will have to pay around $2,500 to the IRS. The department did not answer specific questions from The Texas Tribune and Army Times about the overall cost of the error to Operation Lone Star personnel. But for those who went home before knowing of the problem, theres little left to do but brace for impact. If the department does not have funding to address it, he said the state Legislature should consider using its estimated $27 billion surplus to help service members. Multiple payrolls can be processed for each calendar., Another source within TMD expressed to Texas Scorecard their frustration when servicemen arent paid on time. Heres what you need to know about the initiative. But, he added: Is it something were looking into? In an October 18 letter, Maj. Gen. Tracy Norris, Adjutant General of the Texas National Guard, asked Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar to help ensure TNG soldiers deployed as part of OLS are reliably paid in a timely manner.. However, theres no question that this declaration made Operation Lone Stars dramatic expansion possible. Salary ranges can vary widely depending on many important factors, including education , certifications, additional skills, the number of years you have spent in your profession. President Biden has not provided any concrete solutions to combat the record levels of illegal immigration and transnational criminal activity pouring across the border. Texas has also bused more than 9,100 migrants to our nation's capital since April, over 4,900 migrants to New York City since August 5, more than 1,500 migrants to Chicago since August 31, and more than 840 migrants to Philadelphia since November 15. DPS Lt. Chris Olivarez joined Fox News to provide an update on the historic border crisis created by President Biden's policies, especially as the administration has yet to offer a solution if and when Title 42 is permanently lifted. This article is co-published and co-reported with the The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit newsroom that informs Texans about state policy and politics. This time he asked for another almost $1.9 billion to pay another 1,800 guards/troopers and build a border wall (called Operation Steel Curtain, under the OLS program). One consequence is $4.2 billion in damages to the Texas economy and the, loss of a major international railway trade connection, Gov. Every individual who is apprehended or arrested and every ounce of drugs seized would have otherwise made their way into communities across Texas and the nation due to President Biden's open border policies. Abbott launched Operation Lone Star in March 2021 in response to a rise in illegal immigration that would eventually reach historic levels along the Texas-Mexico Though the administration appeared content to ignore its issues on the southern border, even typically friendly outlets reported border crossings had jumped to the highest level in 15 years and the most encounters in 20 years. But some already know what their bills will be (several troops names are being withheld for fear of retaliation): Spc. Doing so led to the tax withholding error, which may affect 96% of service members on the mission who are paid twice a month, according to documents obtained by the Tribune and Army Times. Sign up for The Brief, its daily newsletter. At $4 billion and nearly 10,000 personnel, its lived up to the governors frequent invocations of invasion, as it has at times resembled a military operation more than a disaster response. If the department does not have funding to address it, he said the state Legislature should consider using its estimated $27 billion surplus to help service members. To cover costs Gov. The Operation integrates [Texas Department of Public Safety] with the Texas National Guard and deploys air, ground, marine, and tactical border security assets to high threat areas, Abbotts office stated in a March press release. Hunter Schuler, who was a leading voice among the troops who tried to unionize in the spring, said he will have to pay around $2,500 to the IRS. , the initiative involves border wall construction, the deployment of 10,000 National Guard troops under the pretense of a disaster declaration, and the redirection of the Department of Public Safety (DPS) state troopers and state judicial personnel towards the mass arrests of migrants for trespassing. Texas Scorecard also asked for the actual number of unpaid guardsmen, and the duration of time they have gone unpaid. "Americans are angry and frustrated, and it's time for Biden to lay out details about how he will stop illegal immigration coming across our border. Are these issues being addressed?. supporting the Tribune. Abbotts office did not respond to a request for comment. Greg Abbott swears in Brig. Finance personnel recently added the withholding issue to the briefings they give troops when they depart the mission, which includes average projected income tax estimates by annual taxable income. Shortly after President Joe Bidens inauguration, he had a full-blown border crisis on his hands. Contrary to what the federal government is doing, we are trying to make an impact by trying to stop what is taking place. Hundreds of people arrested and detained under Operation Lone Star were not charged with a crime for weeks, and dozens were not given a lawyer for more than a month, The Texas Tribune first reported in September 2021. Sign up for The Brief, our daily newsletter that keeps readers up to speed on the most essential Texas news. The junior soldier who owes $1,300 was succinct when asked to describe the situation: Shitty., Thankfully, I have money for it, the soldier said. Shortly after President Joe Bidens inauguration, he had a full-blown border crisis on his hands. Red Forman, cantankerous Navy vet of That 70s Show, is back, dumbass, How a new law will help working military spouses, The West doubles down on aiding Ukraine with heavy weapons, Administrator funneled Army aviation tech data to Beijing University, New parental leave policy and Ukraine aid update | Defense News Weekly Full Episode 1.14.23, Important financial steps to take before deployment Money Minute, Canada expands joint strike fighter fleet | Defense Dollars, Star of new movie talks bond between athletes, troops, New name selected for Armys Next Generation Squad Weapon, Army doubles down on retention for fiscal 2023 amid recruiting woes, Army officer awarded less than $4,000 in traffic stop lawsuit, Army Special Forces are testing this rapid-fire mortar system. March 30, 20225 AM Central. Gov. If it was someone like us low-level soldiers, we would have been held accountable, he said. After nearly two decades of decline, illegal immigration began rising about five years ago. The Texas National Guard expanded Operation Lone Star to the far western city of El Paso. To maintain so much personnel continuously obviously takes a considerable amount of money, but based on the most recent round of committee hearings over border security it appears that Texas underestimated how much. The state now only has the money to make $1,000 awards to 714 students against a total Texas National Guard end strength of more than 20,000 troops. When Abbott first announced Operation Lone Star, 500 Texas National Guard members were sent to the border, and HB 9 funded a deployment of an additional 1,800 soldiers in September 2021. State officials already transferred $480 million to OLS from other departments in January of this year to keep the operation functioning through spring. Soldiers are reminded to update their information using the legacy systems to keep their payroll and personnel Communications reveal complications arose in paying Texas National Guard servicemen during Gov. Operation Lone Star has been riddled in controversy since its inception, often being cited as expensive political posturing. And the problems havent ended yet. According to staff, we are aware that the agency has experienced turnover in some senior staff, but we are prepared to assist as needed, he wrote. Texas Scorecard received the following records from the comptroller on November 16. Members of the National Guard stand near a vehicle along the U.S.-Mexico border, Tuesday, March 23, 2021, in Mission, Texas (AP Photo/Julio Cortez) In the fight against fentanyl, DPS has seized over 355 million lethal doses of fentanyl during this border mission. The service member said he was disappointed that there has been no investigation into the issue or a move to hold officials accountable. Since the news organizations investigation, DPS has since removed those numbers. We questioned about it at the time and they said Oh, everythings all right, he said. Governor Abbott, DPS Launch Operation Lone Star To Address Crisis At Southern Border. Given the investment that the state and Governor Abbott have made in Operation Lone Star, its fair to ask what the returns have been to date. Abbott earlier directed DPS troopers to make additional truck inspections in light of the Biden admins announcement to end title 42. As covered in earlier posts, the initiative involves border wall construction, the deployment of 10,000 National Guard troops under the pretense of a disaster declaration, and the redirection of the Department of Public Safety (DPS) state troopers and state judicial personnel towards the mass arrests of migrants for trespassing. Texas law dictates that criminals must be assigned an attorney within three days of asking for one, and state law requires that defendants be released from jail if prosecutors delay cases by not filing charges quickly. From what I see, theyre trying to make things right, the source said. This issue must be addressed now we cannot inflict further financial instability on our service members and their families, Dominguez said in a letter sent to Maj. Gen. Thomas Suelzer, the Texas National Guards top leader, on Thursday. On August 24, Abbott announced he was surging TNG forces to the border, but again, he provided no specific numbers. [Eighty-two] payments does not necessarily mean 82 soldiers. But some service members reached by the Tribune and Army Times said they had not been made aware of the problem. They told us everything was good.. To cover costs Gov. But, the extent of these successes has been over-exaggerated by Republican state politicians as well as under-exaggerated by state Democrats. A junior soldier On October 25, Texas Scorecard, under the Texas Public Information Act, sent an open records request to the Texas comptroller, requesting all internal notices and memos regarding overdue pay and backpay regarding the TNG, as well as payment guidelines for Texas National Guard Infantry.. Another service member who learned of the issue a few days before leaving the mission in September said troops had raised concerns about the withholding of taxes on their paychecks since last winter, when the mission was experiencing other pay problems. Burkett said the departments leadership had known about the issue for months and he did not understand why troops had not been told, the service member added. But the recent announcement of the tax issue has felt like another item added to a long list of grievances with the mission, he said. Last session, the Legislature allocated a record $3 billion toward border security efforts, including Abbotts highly touted border mission, Operation Lone Star, which has sent thousands of state troopers and National Guard service members to We only process payments when TMD enters the information required to process a payment into the payroll system on their end., We do know that Lt. Hohmann received additional payments on: Oct 28, Nov 4, Nov 19, and Dec 6, 2021., A source within TMD recently told Texas Scorecard the pay issue for the TNG is ongoing, but its gotten better and indicated that the improvement is significant. Such a move would almost certainly lead to a federal challenge in the courts as. Texas National Guard troops deployed to the border by Gov. The strain of the mission has taken a toll on many soldiers. Texas Military Department officials built a spreadsheet to help troops calculate their tax liability. Gov. A recent Texas Military Department (TMD) press release countering reported issues plaguing Operation Lone Star (OLS) is being disputed by retired service members, as well as a recording of a meeting obtained by Texas Scorecard where multiple concerns (such as pay and sexual assault) were discussed.. A retired member of the Texas The funds are mostly being taken from the Texas Department of Health and Human Services Commission and the Department of Public Safety and are being used to pay for National Guard troops. Its against this backdrop that Gov. Texas Guard replaces commander of troubled Operation Lone Star. By officially declaring an invasion Gov. As of March 4, 2022, state troopers and National Guard members serving under Operation Lone Star have arrested 208,000 migrants and filed more than 11,800 criminal charges, including roughly 9,300 felony charges, according to the governors website. (512) 463-2000, Office of the Texas Governor | Greg Abbott, Operation Lone Star Continues Unprecedented Border Mission Into 2023. Wow. One Air National Guard member who left the mission in May said hed never heard of the withholding shortfall when reached by the Tribune and Army Times. Troops also asked what kind of support the department would provide them in navigating their taxes because of the mistake. Those payrolls covered 89 personnel. Coleman wrote they would contact TMD to inquire specifically about Hohmann and work with them on their issues., Texas Scorecard asked the comptroller if any orders for Hohmann after February were unpaid, and for how long. Abbott issued disaster declarations for nearly 50 border counties in May of that year, a move widely criticized as a usurpation of power that should properly belong to the legislature or federal government. | P.O. If judged in terms of enforcement, Operation LoneStar in Texas has had undeniable successes. Everything was working prior to 2021. Mode: Jason Featherston was in the final month of his 25-year career in the Texas Army National Guard when he heard the news. That prompted 26 Democrats from Texas and across the country to send a letter in October 2021 asking the federal government to investigate what they called Abbotts catch and jail policy and whether it violates state law and the U.S. Constitution. Under Mayorkas leadership, more than 5 million illegal aliens have crossed the southern border. Two days later, Hegar asked comptroller staff if there were issues paying soldiers. This is a self-inflicted crisis, a national security crisis, and a humanitarian crisis., WATCH: DPS Troopers Find 18 Illegal Immigrants Under Tarp In Semi-Trailer. The operation was massively upscaled in November 2021, sending up to 10,000 National Guard members to the border. 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