State Senators spent much of the week in Austin, as the special session of the legislature continued. They discussed and passed three measures on border security on Wednesday.
One bill, Senate Bill 8, would create a border police force, made up of commissioned law enforcement officers, that would be trained to target those who smuggle migrants and drugs into Texas. A second, House Bill 2, increases the penalty for anyone caught smuggling people, or operating a stash house. That’s the bill passed by the Texas House just before they adjourned for the Summer.
The final bill passed, Senate Bill 2, makes it a state crime to cross into the US along the Texas-Mexico border anywhere other than a known port of entry. As it stands, similar immigration laws on the books are federal statutes, and should be enforced by federal law enforcement groups, according to immigration officials. That is why lawmakers said the new bill is needed.
On Wednesday, as he laid the bill out to the Senate once again, Senator Brian Birdwell (R, Grandbury ) was asked several questions related to enforcement. Senator Rolland Gutierrez (D, San Antonio) asked Birdwell why he believed it was necessary.
“Doesn’t federal law already prohibit illegal entry into the United States?” Sen. Gutierrez asked.
“It does,” Birdwell said.
“So then why do we need the statute then?” Gutierrez questioned.
Birdwell said, “For the very reason that we’ve seen along the Texas border,” with over 6 1/2 million people have been coming to the country.”
Importantly, these bills are stalled out for the time being, since the Texas House of Representatives gaveled out of the special session on the first day, sparking the fight in the legislature over property tax reform that is still ongoing.
That means Governor Greg Abbott would be required to call at least one more special session, so that both chambers can work out a compromise piece of legislation to send to the Governor for his signature.
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