HUMAN RIGHTS IN TEXAS: ANALYZING OPERATION LONE STAR THROUGH A HUMAN RIGHTS FRAMEWORK

In 2021, Texas Governor Greg Abbott launched Operation Lone Star (OLS) under the guise of border security. For over three years, OLS has threatened the lives of migrants and U.S. citizens alike. While advocates have primarily challenged OLS under U.S. state and federal law, this Note examines arguments based on the U.S.'s international treaty obligations, particularly emphasizing the importance of enforcing international mechanisms of accountability. This Note analyzes OLS under three international law treaties the U.S. has ratified: the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and the Convention Against Torture. This Note then evaluates the international mechanisms through which these treaties can be enforced in the U.S.: the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination Committee, the Human Rights Committee, and the Committee Against Torture. By understanding the extent to which OLS violates minimum human rights standards under international law, advocates can bolster their efforts to end OLS and protect migrants and U.S. citizens from future violations of basic human rights.