Secure the Border
Priority
Secure the Border and Protect Texans
Priority: Texas shall immediately deny all taxpayer funded services and subsidies to illegal aliens. We call upon the Governor to assert his duty under Article 1, Section 10, Clause 3 of the US Constitution to declare an invasion on our Texas border and do everything in his power to protect Texans from this invasion. The legislature shall direct the Governor to enter into an Interstate Compact with one or more states for Border Security. Sub-Committee Chair Kelly Perry
Report: We passed two good bills. SB 1403 by Sen Parker, creates an interstate compact for border security, including building a border wall and sharing state intelligence and resources. SB 1900 by Sen. Birdwell designates the cartels as foreign terrorist organizations. Speaker Phelan killed HB 20 by Rep. Schaefer, which would have created the Texas Border Task Force and allowed Texas to turn illegal alien back across the border when Democrats killed it on a point of order.
Legislation
Legislation introduced in the 88th legislative session approved by the SREC.
Border Updates
Texas GOP Passes Unanimous Resolution Calling For Special Legislative Session On Colony Ridge
By Spencer Lindquist | DailyWire.com
The Republican Party of Texas unanimously passed a resolution calling on Governor Greg Abbott to convene a special legislative session to address Colony Ridge, the massive housing development north of Houston that’s become a hub for illegal immigrants.
The resolution, which passed by a vote of 61-0, says a special legislative session must be convened in order to “prevent further settlement of illegal aliens in Colony Ridge and any other areas of Texas.” The power to call a special legislative session is with Abbott, who has already been urged by the state’s Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick to do the same.
Governor Abbott Renews Border Security Disaster Declaration In June 2023
June 11, 2023 | Austin, Texas | Proclamation
Click here to view the Border Security Disaster Declaration.
New Marine Floating Barrier
On June 9, Governor Abbott announced the deployment of new marine floating barriers to deter illegal crossings in hotspots along the Rio Grande River. This strategy will proactively prevent illegal crossings between ports of entry by making it more difficult to cross the Rio Grande and reach the Texas side of the southern border. The first 1,000 feet of the marine floating barrier will be deployed near Eagle Pass.
Governor Abbott Signs Sweeping Package Of Border Security Legislation
June 8, 2023
Governor Greg Abbott today signed a series of border security legislation passed during the 88th Regular Legislative Session into law at the Texas Capitol. This package of six bills will expand Texas’ unprecedented efforts to hold the line and protect Texans from the record level of illegal immigration, weapons, and deadly drugs pouring into Texas from Mexico caused by President Biden’s refusal to secure the border.
“Thanks to the leadership and hard work of Director McCraw, General Suelzer, and their teams, Texas has pushed back against the swell of migrants and held the line to keep people out of Texas—but there’s more that needs to be done,” said Governor Abbott. “
Democrat Wants Ranchers to Pay When Illegal Aliens Damage Property
In a hearing about potential border security measures and grants for South Texans facing immense property damage, Democrat State Rep. Rafael Anchia proposed ranchers pay for the litigation costs of suing illegal aliens for damages.
“Let’s just say that their response to Anchia would require quite a few redactions of words,” Kinney County Attorney Brent Smith told Texas Scorecard.
In the House State Affairs Committee on Wednesday, lawmakers considered several border security measures. One, House Bill 7 by State Rep. Ryan Guillen (R–Rio Grande City), would administer and finance support programs for the southern border region, including property damage compensation as well as additional funding for the judiciary and law enforcement stretched thin by the border crisis.
Smith testified before the committee, raising concerns that the grants didn’t include damages caused by smugglers driving through ranch fences. “A lot of times, they drive through fences, kill cattle [and] livestock, and things of that nature.”
“Rather than the state creating a fund to reimburse people, there would just be a cause of action in tort like any other property damage,” suggested Anchia.
“It might also require the landowners to hire lawyers and pay litigation costs,” explained Smith.
“Well, that’s what I would have to do if someone damages my property, regardless of who they are,” said Anchia, who lives in Dallas.
“I think there’s a misconception that when people say damaged property, it’s not like … you have your car backed into or something,” explained Smith. “You go to the body shop and get that fixed. [It] happens once a year. The ranchers on the border are having that happen every month, every week. There’s ranchers that have fixed their fence over 50 times. That’s unsustainable financially, and it’s by no fault of their own.”
Texans have been sounding the alarm for two years now regarding the devastation to property, livelihoods, and human life.
Although Gov. Greg Abbott’s border security push—Operation Lone Star—has seen some success along the border in capturing illegal drugs, apprehending criminals, and prosecuting illegal border-crossers for criminal trespassing, it has failed to turn the tide of the invasion.
As lawmakers consider additional actions, Smith says, “It was disappointing that Representative Anchia’s remarks during committee testimony were focused on inept ‘gotcha questions’ and attempts to create political division.”
“People from all across the state traveled to Austin to find a solution to the border crisis, not play political games,” said Smith. “It was quickly evident to me that he had no concept of what conditions are like on the ground at the border and was not interested in creating a solution that protects Texans.”
Smith told Texas Scorecard the ranchers he spoke to were insulted by Anchia’s attitude toward their lives and livelihoods, saying it “did not go over well with the ranchers I spoke with.”
Facebook Post from Kinney County Sheriff's Office
A Houston-area driver was arrested late Tuesday night on Highway 90 with 5 illegal aliens from Honduras, Ecuador and Mexico, wedged into their car. Shawn Jerome Johnson from Missouri City in Harris County now faces 5 counts of smuggling of persons. A deputy was stationary along the highway when Johnson drove past. The deputy noticed the driver’s seatbelt wasn’t fastened.
Operation Lone Star Ramps Up Historic Offensive Against Fentanyl Crisis
April 14, 2023 | Austin, Texas | Press Release
Governor Greg Abbott, the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), and the Texas National Guard are continuing to work together to secure the border; stop the smuggling of drugs, weapons, and people into Texas; and prevent, detect, and interdict transnational criminal behavior between ports of entry.
Since the launch of Operation Lone Star, the multi-agency effort has led to over 365,000 illegal immigrant apprehensions and more than 27,000 criminal arrests, with more than 24,000 felony charges reported. In the fight against fentanyl, DPS has seized over 380 million lethal doses of fentanyl during this border mission.
Operation Lone Star continues to fill the dangerous gaps left by the Biden Administration’s refusal to secure the border. 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 Joe Biden’s open border policies.
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