Summary: Only one Border Security bill will reach the governor's desk from Special Session 3 of the 88th TX Legislature; The bill
increases penalties for human smuggling and operating a stash house. / TX Gov. Abbott assigned Border Security as one of the topics for the Special Session 3, 88th TX Legislative Session. / The third Special Session of the TX 88th Legislature began 09 October 2023, focusing on SCHOOL CHOICE, with other issues added, like Boarder Security, Public Safety, and COVID Mandates. WPC will update and repost this blog as new information develops.
Latest Update: 06 November 2023; 27 October, 2023
Select #Tags for additional articles: #StateLegislation
New Border Laws passed by the Special Session 3, 88th TX Legislative Session
TX Gov. Abbott assigned Border Security as one of the topics for the Special Session 3, 88th TX Legislative Session.
Willow Park Civics Blog > Special Session 3, 88th TX Legislative Session, 10 October 2023
Border Security Articles
• Only 2 Measures Reach Governor’s Desk in Third Special Session, Texas Scorecard, 06 November 22023. Excerpt. As the third special legislative session comes to an end today, lawmakers have sent to Gov. Greg Abbott's desk. / One measure bans COVID-19 vaccine requirements in most settings. The other increases penalties for human smuggling and operating a stash house. / The rest of the agenda stalled out, including creating a state-level offense for illegal entry from a foreign country and addressing housing areas—like Colony Ridge—that seem to serve as magnets for illegal aliens. / Most notably, the Texas House has again thwarted Abbott's desire for a school choice program.
• Bill to Criminalize Illegal Immigration Stalls in Texas Senate After Disagreement on Enforcement Mechanism, The Texan, 06 November 2023. Excerpt. After the Senate declined to send a border security bill back to the House, Speaker Dade Phelan said the chamber is engaging in “political machinations.”
• School Choice Popular Among Texas Youth, Minorities, Dallas Express, 06 November 2023, Excerpts. A new poll shows that school choice policies are generally popular among diverse demographic groups, with urban, young, and minority voters showing the most support. The Texas Trends survey, conducted by the University of Houston and Texas Southern University, found that a plurality of Texans expressed a desire for more educational opportunities.
• With time running out, Texas Senate punts on taking action on border bill, The Texas Tribune, 05 November 2023. Excerpt The Senate on Sunday afternoon failed to take action on a border security bill, leaving virtually no time to pass the bill before the special session ends on Tuesday.
• Fighting between legislative leaders imperils Texas border security bills, The Texas Tribune, 02 November 2023. Excerpt. The governor, lieutenant governor and House speaker generally agree on building more border barriers and making illegal border crossings a state crime. But disagreements over strategy and personal animosity mean those measures face long odds this special legislative session.
• Patrick, Phelan Spar Over Border Security Bills Days Before Special Session Expires, The Texan, 02 November 2023, Excerpt. Gov. Dan Patrick and Speaker Dade Phelan are feuding over which chamber’s border security proposal will be more effective.
• TX Senate Committee Advances Immigration Bill, Dallas Express, 02 November 2023
• Texas GOP lawmakers’ border and education wishlist would expand state budget by $2.7 billion — and counting, The Texas Tribune, 02 November 2023, Excerpt. If bills now being considered pass, lawmakers will be left with $3.3 billion to take care of unforeseen costs over the next two years. Some experts worry that Texas can’t sustain its massive spending on the border and public education.
• Along with the money to build more border barriers, Senate Bill 6 would devote $49 million to beef up law enforcement of the Colony Ridge development that’s become a target of far-right media. The Texas Tribune 31 October 2023
(1) Texas House Approves New Funding for Border Wall, Makes Illegal Entry a State Crime, The Foreign Desk, 27 October 2023
Already passed in the House, measures head to Gov. Abbott for his signature.
The Texas House passed historic border bills previously passed by the Senate and in line with Gov. Greg Abbott’s call for the third special session.
After contentious debate in the House, HB 4 was passed about 4 a.m. Thursday. The bill for the first time in state history makes illegal entry into Texas a state crime and allows Texas law enforcement to implement arrest and removal procedures, including transporting illegal foreign nationals to a port of entry.
If the person who entered Texas illegally fails to comply, they face being arrested with a second-degree felony charge, which carries a prison sentence of 2-20 years.
Filed by Republican Rep. David Spiller, it’s the companion bill of SB 11, filed by Sen. Brian Birdwell, R-Granbury, which passed the Senate roughly two weeks ago.
State Senate approves bill to spend $1.5 billion for border walls, more policing of Liberty County development
• Along with the money to build more border barriers, Senate Bill 6 would devote $49 million to beef up law enforcement of the Colony Ridge development that’s become a target of far-right media. The Texas Tribune 31 October 2023
The state Senate on Tuesday approved a $1.5 billion proposal that would give Gov. Greg Abbott the money to continue erecting a barrier along the Texas-Mexico border and pay for state troopers to have a presence on Colony Ridge, the Houston suburb that far right publications have said is a magnet for undocumented immigrants.
• Border, Migration, Inflation Top Texas Issues, Dallas Express, 28 October 2023. Excerpt
The poll, which was conducted by the Texas Politics Project at the University of Texas, surveyed 1,200 registered Texas voters. It had a 2.83% margin of error. When asked what the most important issue facing Texas was, 20% of respondents across party lines said border security. Some 15% said immigration, while 11% answered inflation and rising prices.
When broken down by party lines...
• Texas House passes three immigration bills after contentious night of debate, The Texas Tribune, 26 October 2023. Excerpt. Democrats fumed when Republicans tried to block more amendments on a bill that would create a new state crime for illegally crossing the border into Texas.
This week the state legislature passed three new laws supporting Border Security along the Texas border.
• HB 4 "[for the] first time in state history makes illegal entry into Texas a state crime and allows Texas law enforcement to implement arrest and removal procedures, including transporting illegal foreign nationals to a port of entry." Filed by Republican Rep. David Spiller, it’s the companion bill of SB 11, filed by Sen. Brian Birdwell, R-Granbury, which passed the Senate roughly two weeks ago. (1)
• HB 6 “for the construction, operation, and maintenance of border barrier infrastructure.” The border barrier measure allocates an additional $1.5 billion to fund Abbott’s Operation Lone Star projects. This includes continuing to build the first border wall in Texas history, as well as the first marine barriers installed in the Rio Grande River. (1)
• SB 4 creates a mandatory minimum sentence for human smugglers. Sentencing ranges from five to 25 years. (1)
• Texas House Lawmakers Pass Border Security Measures, Texas Scorecard, 26 October 2023
• Texas House approves new funding for border wall, makes illegal entry a state crime, The Center Square, 27 October 2023. Already passed in the House, measures head to Gov. Abbott for his signature
• Profanities, Priorities, and Paxton: A Chaotic Day and Night in the Texas House, The Texan, 26 October 2023, Excerpts.The 17 hours on the floor concluded with passage of four bills included on Gov. Greg Abbott's special session agenda.
• Texas House Approves $1.5 for Border Barriers, Mandatory Minimums for Human Smuggling, The Texan, 26 October 2023. Excerpt. House members also passed a bill to criminalize illegal immigration at the state level.
• Texas House to Vote on Border Bills, Private COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate Ban, The Texan 25 October 2023, Excerpt. The Texas House will take its first swing at legislation on the floor so far during the third special session.
• Texas lawmakers weigh spending $1.5 billion on more border barriers. Experts say walls alone won’t stop migrants. The Texas Tribune, 23 October 2023, Excerpts. The House Appropriations Committee passed House Bill 6 on Monday. If it becomes law, the bill would fund an estimated 50 miles of new barriers at the 1,200-mile Texas-Mexico border.
• Dallas County Plans To Sue Over Texas Border Security Measure, Texas Scorecard, 19 October 2023. Excepts. Senate Bill 11 by State Sen. Brian Birdwell (R–Granbury) creates a criminal penalty for improper entry from a foreign nation. The Democrat-controlled Dallas commissioners claimed Birdwell's legislation would fill up county jails across the state without any attached funding.
• Willow Park Civics Blog > Biden’s Border Crisis, US House Rep D25 Roger Williams, 12 October 2023, Summary: In representing District 25, US Rep. Williams has often spoken, written, and moved legislation about ongoing illegal immigration at US borders. Williams is the US House Representative for Texas District 25, which includes Willow Park.
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