“Show Me Your Papers, Texas!”: Texas Takes Boarder Security Into Its Own Hands

Samantha FitzgibbonsDec 2, 2023

Minute Read

Texan legislators have passed a new immigration bill empowering police to detain individuals crossing the border illegally.

Migrant Bills Passed

In the early hours of Thursday, the Texas House passed three bills focused on enhancing border security. The first bill allocates over $1 billion for additional border barriers, the second empowers police officers to return migrants who illegally cross the border, and the third raises penalties for human smugglers.

Texas Takes a Stand

Amid rising concerns, Texas Senate Bill 4, aimed at addressing illegal immigration and the most contentious of bills, is set to land on Governor Greg Abbott’s desk. The proposed legislation outlines measures for the arrest and deportation of specific illegal migrants in the state.

Criminalizing Illegal Entry

If signed into law, Senate Bill 4 would categorize illegal entry as a state misdemeanor, carrying a penalty of up to two years. Notably, this would be applicable only to recent arrivals, sparking heated debates and accusations of racism from Democrats.

Republican Tactics

Tensions escalated during debates last Thursday when State Representative Cody Harris, a Republican from Palestine, proposed a motion to prevent new amendments, a seldom-used tactic aimed at hastening the conclusion of the debate.

Heated Debate

After standing at ease for hours, House Speaker Dade Phelan requested the consideration of the numerous pending amendments leading to further debate from both parties.

Local Repercussions

State Rep State Rep. Armando Lucio Walle, D-Houston told Harris it was unfair for Republicans to cut off debate when they were proposing legislation that “hurts our community.”

City Struggles

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The surge of migrants crossing the southern border has resulted in a crisis in major cities like New York and Chicago. New York City, grappling with over 130,000 arrivals since last year, faces resource strains, while Chicago endeavors to accommodate more than 18,500 migrants, predominantly from Venezuela, at a staggering cost of at least $250 million.

Democrats Criticize

As Senate Bill 4 progresses, Democrats have criticized its supporters, alleging racist motivations behind the legislation. The polarized discussions underscore the challenges of finding consensus on immigration policies.

Scale of Illegal Immigration

A report cited by House Republicans paints a concerning picture, suggesting that the number of illegal migrants in the country ranges from 16.8 million to 29 million. Approximately 3.8 million of these individuals are believed to have entered the country during the Biden administration, adding complexity to the ongoing immigration debate.

Texas Legislative Action

HB 4, introduced by State Representative David Spiller, R-Jacksboro, aims to establish a fresh state offense for unlawfully crossing into Texas from Mexico. The proposed legislation would empower state law enforcement to apprehend offenders and grant officers the authority to repatriate migrants to a designated port of entry, instructing them to return to Mexico.

First-Time Offenders

According to the proposed legislation, a first-time offender might face a misdemeanor conviction and a potential sentence of up to 180 days of incarceration.

Increased Penalty

The consequence would escalate to a felony carrying a maximum two-year prison term for individuals with a history of repeated illegal entry into the country, as per the proposed legislation.

Spiller Justifies Motions

Arguing that the bill doesn’t preempt federal law and merely enforces existing laws, Spiller said, “There is nothing unfair about ordering someone back from where they came if they arrived here illegally,”

Democrats Predictions

State Representative Victoria Neave Criado, a Democrat from Dallas, expressed apprehension that the legislation might result in the inadvertent arrest of U.S. citizens residing on the border if they lack immediate proof of citizenship.

US Citizen Repercussions

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Spiller commented that such a scenario appears improbable, emphasizing that a U.S. citizen has not been mistakenly deported from the country. However, the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) disclosed in a July 2021 report that immigration agents had “arrested 674, detained 121, and removed 70 potential U.S. citizens” between 2015 and 2020.

Texas-Mexico border

Texas House also endorsed House Bill 6, introduced by state Rep. Jacey Jetton, R-Richmond, with an 84-61 vote on Wednesday. This bill allocates $1.5 billion to support Governor Abbott’s initiatives to construct border barriers across various sections of the 1,200-mile Texas-Mexico border.

Barrier Funding Bill

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The concise bill outlines plans for the state to engage five contractors for the construction of an extra 50 miles of border barriers and the upkeep of the already planned 40 miles of barriers, as detailed in testimony from officials representing the governor’s office.

Internet Responses

Social media users have spoken up about Texas’ immigration stance, and few are in support of the bill, ‘Again Texas and Hitler Abbott are trying to keep immigration a political circus. It’s a FEDERAL obligation, not a state decision. Republicans need to focus on providing teachers better salaries and the school system more funding instead of stealing taxpayer money to give to their private charter thieves. Time to turn Texas Blue and get rid of these thieves and racist politicians.’

Extreme Laws

Another user suggests barbaric treatment, ‘Show me your papers, Texas! This is absolutely ridiculous. I get the safety aspect but not having your passport or proof of citizenship on you leading to your arrest is insanity.’