A federal judge last month ordered the state to remove the barriers from the middle of the river - but that order was placed on hold pending an appeal. If passed, the deportation legislation will likely wind up in court, a fight Abbott has welcomed on other issues, including the installation of floating barriers in the Rio Grande at Eagle Pass, Texas. It's unclear how state and local officers would accomplish that task as most immigration-enforcement matters, including the removal of non-citizens, falls under the purview of the federal government. To crack down on repeated attempts to enter Texas illegally, re-entry will be penalized with up to 20 years in prison.' Questions of legality and enforcement 'All licensed law enforcement officers in Texas will be authorized to arrest or remove any person who illegally enters the State, with penalties up to 20 years in prison for refusing to comply with removal. 'For the first time ever, Texas will subject people to arrest for illegal entry into our state from a foreign nation,' Abbott said in a statement. Abbott once again added that item to the special session agenda his office announced Thursday. As filed, members of the so-called Border Protection Unit, whose chief would be appointed by Abbott, would 'arrest, apprehend or detain' people who illegally cross into the United States and 'repel' people who attempt to enter the country.ĭuring the first-called special session, an immigration bill that would have expanded penalties for human smugglers and operators of stash houses also failed after it became a casualty of the infighting between Republican members of the Texas House and Senate over property taxes (a property tax bill eventually passed later). They include an omnibus immigration bill that would have created a new law enforcement unit on the state's border with Mexico.

That request comes after the Texas Legislature appropriated more than $5 billion for border security during the regular session that ended in May.Īlthough Abbott got the funding he wanted, other border bills didn't make it across the finish line by late May. 'Nevertheless, in the last two years, Border Texans have watched Governor Abbott funnel billions of taxpayer dollars into his political pet project of a 'border crisis', which the State itself has been exacerbating to build a racist, xenophobic narrative that demonizes migrants and degrades the border communities that thousands of Texans call home.' More funding for the borderĪbbott wants lawmakers to appropriate more funding for border barriers as well. 'Federal law is very clear: States cannot engage in immigration enforcement,' said Thorn in a statement Thursday.

This time, the Republican wants state lawmakers to approve legislation creating a state deportation force.Ībbott's list said he wants 'Legislation to do more to reduce illegal immigration by creating a criminal offense for illegal entry into this state from a foreign nation and authorizing all licensed peace officers to remove illegal immigrants from Texas.'Īron Thorn, senior attorney at Texas Civil Rights Project's Beyond Borders Program, pushed back on the idea. State deportation force also on the agendaīorder policies also lead Gov. You have the right to take your child to public school, if you don't like that public school and you want to go to the adjacent public school, we already have provisions on the books so you can take your child to the adjacent public school.' 'Well, you've got a school choice already today. 'They throw around the term school choice,' Nichols said, referring to Republicans who support school vouchers. Robert Nichols, R-Jacksonville, who voted against school vouchers in the past, told The Texas Newsroom he remains steadfast in his opposition. That prohibition was later dropped when the Legislature passed the state budget. During the regular session, House Republicans voted with Democrats to block the use of public funds for the implementation of a school voucher program. The proposal is likely to split the Republican majority in the Texas Legislature. These accounts would allow families to use taxpayer money to cover the cost of private schooling. Second push for school vouchersĪbbott followed up on his campaign promise to push - once again - for the implementation of education savings accounts.

The Legislature's return to Austin comes three weeks after the Texas Senate acquitted Attorney General Ken Paxton of impeachment charges, leading to a stark divide between the Texas House and the Texas Senate.īoth chambers will have to work together for any legislation to pass. Abbott's wish list of what he wants lawmakers to tackle next week also includes eliminating COVID-19 vaccine mandates, according to the official proclamation.

Senate session transcripts