Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed into law a “transformative package of border security legislation” on Monday at the Texas border wall in Brownsville. The three new laws in the package passed during legislative special sessions focus on the state’s border security efforts, and are designed to crack down on human smuggling, deter illegal border crossings, and protect the citizens of Texas.
Abbott was joined at the bill signing ceremony by Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, National Border Patrol Council (NBPC) President Brandon Judd, and a number of other elected representatives and border officials, according to a press release on the event:
“Four years ago, the United States had the fewest illegal border crossings in decades,” said Governor Abbott. “It was because of four policies put in place by the Trump Administration that led to such a low number of illegal crossings. President Biden has eliminated all of those policies and done nothing to halt illegal immigration. President Biden’s deliberate inaction has left Texas to fend for itself. Today, I will sign three laws to better protect Texas — and America — from President Biden’s border neglect. These laws will help stop the tidal wave of illegal entry into Texas, add additional funding to build more border wall, and crackdown on human smuggling.”
The package of laws includes Senate Bill 4 from Special Session #3, according to the release. The law “creates a mandatory ten-year minimum prison sentence for smuggling of persons and continuous smuggling of persons.” The law “enhances the criminal penalties for the operation of a stash house and creates a mandatory five-year minimum prison sentence.” It also increases criminal penalties for “victim-related offenses that occurred during the commission of smuggling, such as assault and burglary.”
Another new law passed will “appropriate $1.54 billion in general revenue to the Trusteed Programs within the Office of the Governor for border security operations and the construction, operation, and maintenance of border barrier infrastructure.”
The most controversial of the new laws is Senate Bill 4 from Special Session #4 that “creates a criminal offense for illegal entry into this state from a foreign nation,” and allows Texas law officers to arrest and detain illegals while giving local judges authority to order them to leave the country. This law takes effect in March and is certainly going to end up in court, as immigration enforcement and border security is a federal responsibility.
According to the press release, this law also “provides civil immunity and indemnification for local and state government officials, employees, and contractors for lawsuits resulting from the enforcement of these provisions.”
The Associated Press reported that “opponents have called the measure the most dramatic attempt by a state to police immigration since a 2010 Arizona law — denounced by critics as the ‘Show Me Your Papers’ bill — that was largely struck down by the U.S. Supreme Court. Texas’ law is also likely to face swift legal challenges.”
Responding to the recent surge of illegal aliens crossing the border from Mexico into Texas, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) temporarily suspended rail operations beginning on Monday at two railway crossing bridges in Eagle Pass and El Paso, Texas, in order to redirect personnel with taking migrants into custody.
News Nation reported that more than 4,000 migrants crossed into the Eagle Pass area on Monday. The area was “experiencing an average of more than 2,000 illegal crossings per day” before the number doubled on Monday. These overwhelming numbers of illegals crossing the border highlights the failure of the federal government to secure the border and gives credence to why the state of Texas has stepped in to protect itself with the new laws.
Supporting the new legislation, Lieutenant Governor Patrick stated at the signing ceremony, “It has never been more clear that Texas must step into the breach created by the border security liars and deniers Biden, Harris, and Mayorkas, and the signing of these three bills is indicative of the Texas Senate and my commitment to stemming the flow of illegal immigration and a strong southern border.”
NBPC President Judd added, “Border Patrol agents nationwide, not just in Texas, are grateful for Governor Abbott’s leadership and willingness to recognize that it is the rule of law that keeps all Americans safe.” Judd continued, “His actions have already saved lives, and his continued actions will undoubtedly save thousands more. As the flagrant disregard of our laws too often is the norm throughout our country, Texans can be proud that their governor will not back down to pervasive and radical woke ideology. Instead, he will continue to look out for the best interests of his great state.”
