Lone Star Defenders Office

Lone Star Defenders Office (LSDO) is a new nonprofit that launched in the fall of 2023 to oversee the criminal defense representation of individuals arrested under Operation Lone Star (OLS). OLS is Governor Abbott's border initiative that has resulted in the arrest of thousands of people near the Texas-Mexico border for charges like misdemeanor trespass or felony human smuggling. LSDO is the indigent defense hub for OLS. We appoint counsel for OLS clients, and we provide training, support, and oversight to the lawyers taking OLS cases. Our goal is to ensure that all clients receive the zealous representation that the US Constitution promises them.