Dangerous Anti-Migrant Legislation SB 4 Heads to Greg Abbott’s Desk
AUSTIN, Texas – Today, Texas House Republicans passed anti-migrant bills aimed at targeting, imprisoning and deporting vulnerable migrants while also criminalizing Texas residents based on their perceived citizenship status and the color of their skin. Pushed by Greg Abbott’s billionaire backers and white supremacist groups – these bills aim to further plunge Texas into an authoritarian police state with no real solutions in sight.
Background:
SB 4 adds improper border entry as a new criminal offense that would place tens of thousands of undocumented Texas residents and migrants in the state criminal justice system and empowers the Texas judicial system to deport vulnerable migrants whose only crime is seeking a better life for their families and the American Dream.
Texas Democratic Party Chairman Gilberto Hinojosa issued the following statement:
“Texas Republican extremist groups with ties to white supremacists ordered Greg Abbott to add the most anti-migrant, dangerous and unconstitutional border charges to the special legislative sessions agenda earlier this year. And today, Texas Republicans proudly passed legislation that will allow Greg Abbott’s Department of Public Safety (DPS) to imprison Black and Brown migrants for simply existing in our state. And instead of working to address our issues at the southern border with data-driven, humane proposals like our Texas House Democrats – bloodthirsty Republicans are choosing violence and political stunts.
“It’s clear that the Republican Party of Texas is currently in a state of chaos – and their priorities are only aligned when it comes to imprisoning and deporting vulnerable migrants and defunding public schools for political gain. This is nothing short of codified hate, all so Greg Abbott and Dan Patrick can tout DPS and Operation Lone Star soundbites for Fox News. This will not fix the real security issues along the southern border. This will not keep Texans safe. This will do nothing but rip families apart and overcrowd our prisons – which is what Texas Republicans do best.”
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