BROWNSVILLE – In a move that has stirred heated debates, Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed a package of bills into law in Brownsville on Monday, Dec. 18.
The three bills Abbott signed pour more money into efforts to deter illegal immigration at the Texas-Mexico border and give Texas law enforcement authority to arrest illegal immigrants anywhere within the state.
Senate Bill 3 (Huffman/Jetton)
S.B. 3 earmarks $1.54 billion from the general revenue fund for Trusteed Programs within the Office of the Governor.
The allocated funds are primarily directed toward the construction, operation, and maintenance of border barrier infrastructure and border security operations.
To ensure a targeted and effective approach, the bill explicitly prohibits the use of funds for property acquisition through eminent domain and for the construction of barriers along the Texas-Mexico international border.
Additional restrictions are placed on the use of funds for barriers along the boundary shared with other states.
A notable portion of the allocated funds is designated for bolstering border security operations, addressing the strain on local prosecutorial, judicial, and correctional resources.
Magistrates and judges are granted authority under the law to issue orders for individuals charged with offenses related to illegal entry, mandating their repatriation to their foreign nation of origin.
Senate Bill 4 (Flores/Guillen)
S.B. 4 takes a robust stance on combating human smuggling, introducing a mandatory ten-year minimum prison sentence for persons engaged in smuggling and continuous smuggling activities.
Garnering bipartisan support, the law intensifies penalties for operating stash houses, imposing a mandatory five-year minimum prison sentence.
Further enhancements target criminal penalties for offenses such as assault and burglary committed during smuggling activities.
Senate Bill 4 (Perry/Spiller)
Addressing the issue of illegal entry, S.B. 4 establishes a criminal offense for individuals entering Texas from a foreign nation without authorization.
The legislation tackles repeat attempts at illegal entry by introducing the offense of illegal reentry, with potential penalties of up to 20 years in prison.
The bill also provides a mechanism to order offenders to return to their foreign nation of origin.
Notably, the law extends civil immunity and indemnification to local and state government officials, employees, and contractors, safeguarding them against lawsuits stemming from the enforcement of these provisions.