Texas passes new immigration legislation
Billions for a wall plus a possible showdown with the Fed.
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Friday, December 22, 2023
· 3 feedback
By way of Texas Tribune: Gov. Greg Abbott indicators invoice making unlawful immigration a state crime.
Senate Invoice 3 earmarks $1.54 billion in state cash to proceed development of obstacles alongside the 1,200-mile border and permits the state to spend as much as $40 million for state troopers to patrol Colony Ridge, a housing improvement close to Houston, as right-wing publications declare. is a magnet for undocumented immigrants.
The cash will likely be added to not less than $1.5 billion in contracts the state has issued since September 2021 to construct about 40 miles of border barrier. By August, Texas had erected 16 miles of metal bollard obstacles in Starr, Cameron, Val Verde and Webb counties.
Senate Invoice 4 creates a state crime to illegally cross the border from Mexico — a brand new legislation that’s more likely to drive a authorized showdown with the federal authorities.
[…]
The legislation permits a choose to drop costs if a migrant agrees to return to Mexico.
Two fast ideas. First, this creates a foundation for rounding up migrants (and virtually actually a rise in harassment of Hispanic Individuals, as this can encourage state legislation enforcement to verify paperwork primarily based on how folks look). Second, I can not assist however proceed to consider that the {dollars} being spent on border obstacles might be spent way more successfully in quite a few methods.
Little doubt this can trigger the federal authorities to step in and sue on the idea that this isn’t a state matter. This jogs my memory of SB1070 handed in Arizona, components of which have been overturned by SCOTUS on the idea that immigration standing is a federal problem.
From a purely political perspective, I might notice that that is good for Abbott. It is going to be warmly obtained by his supporters and can resonate nationally with Republicans. It represents the sort of hardcore enforcement and barrier-building coverage preferences which can be fairly common in these circles. That these measures will virtually actually not clear up (and even appreciably have an effect on) the migrant drawback dealing with the nation won’t matter.
About Steven L. Taylor
Steven L. Taylor is Professor of Political Science and Dean of the School of Arts and Sciences. His predominant areas of experience embrace events, elections and the institutional design of democracies. His newest e book is co-authored A Totally different Democracy: American Authorities in a 31-Nation Perspective. He bought his Ph.D. from the College of Texas and his BA from the College of California, Irvine. He has been running a blog since 2003 (initially on the now defunct Poliblog). Comply with Steven additional Twitter
