Lawmakers Want Border Crossers Hit With Felonies

[#TexasPolitics365]

Republican lawmakers in Texas are proposing legislation that would make it a state felony to cross the border from Mexico illegally and create a new border police force that could deputize private citizens, the latest in the state's continued push to test the limits of the federal government's authority over immigration.

(Full story HERE.)
--------------------------------------------------

** We are dedicated to bringing you Texas Politics, 365 days a year! Tips? texaspolitics365@gmail.com

Advertisement

For advertising opportunities, email us.

Abbott Seeks Investigation Of NGOs Over Immigration

[#TexasPolitics365]

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) on Wednesday asked his top law enforcement official to investigate nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) operating in the state over their role in assisting immigrants to cross the U.S.-Mexico border.

(Full story HERE.)
--------------------------------------------------

** We are dedicated to bringing you Texas Politics, 365 days a year! Tips? texaspolitics365@gmail.com

Advertisement

For advertising opportunities, email us.

Thousands Flood Texas Border Days Before Law Change

[#TexasPolitics365]

Officials in El Paso, Texas, a border city that has seen an increase in migrants crossing over into the United States from Mexico, told city leaders on Monday that the numbers of people illegally crossing into the city "are unsustainable," days before Title 42 is set to expire.

El Paso Deputy City Manager Mario D'Agostino was speaking to the City Council when he laid out the latest migrant figures. He said the city was seeing an average of 2,500 apprehensions daily. Over the weekend, the Border Patrol's El Paso Sector saw a daily average of more than 2,400 migrants.

(Full story HERE.)
--------------------------------------------------

** We are dedicated to bringing you Texas Politics, 365 days a year! Tips? texaspolitics365@gmail.com

Advertisement

For advertising opportunities, email us.

Texas Republicans In Congress Unveil Border Security Plan

[#TexasPolitics365]

The Texas Republican delegation in the US House unveiled a new border security proposal to push back on White House assertions that the GOP has no 'plan' to fix the southern border. 

The framework, which is made up of both legislation their delegation has already introduced and new proposals as Republicans prepare to take the House, is split up into four categories: completing the border wall, fixing border enforcement policies, enforcing laws in the interior, and targeting cartels. 

(Full story HERE.)
--------------------------------------------------

** We are dedicated to bringing you Texas Politics, 365 days a year! Tips? texaspolitics365@gmail.com

Advertisement

For advertising opportunities, email us.

Abbott Unleashes $355 Million In Public Safety Grants

[#TexasPolitics365]

Governor Greg Abbott has announced that his Public Safety Office (PSO) will administer more than $355 million in grant funding for a variety of public safety programs and services in Texas, including victims services, anti-human trafficking efforts, and law enforcement support. This grant funding is made possible through a combination of federal and state dollars.

(Full story HERE.)
--------------------------------------------------

** We are dedicated to bringing you Texas Politics, 365 days a year! Tips? texaspolitics365@gmail.com

Advertisement

For advertising opportunities, email us.

Abbott Signs Executive Order Returning illegals to the Border

[#TexasPolitics365]

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has issued an Executive Order authorizing the Texas National Guard & Texas Dept. of Public Safety to return illegal immigrants to the border.

Abbott tweeted: 

"Cartels have become emboldened by Biden's open border policies.

Texas is taking unprecedented action to STOP this criminal enterprise."

--------------------------------------------------

** We are dedicated to bringing you Texas Politics, 365 days a year! Tips? texaspolitics365@gmail.com

Advertisement

For advertising opportunities, email us.

Kinney County Declares "Invasion" Demands Help

[#TexasPolitics365]

Kinney County, Texas declared a local state of disaster on Tuesday. Officials say they are being invaded by migrants coming across the Texas-Mexico border.

The declaration filed Tuesday by Kinney County Judge Tully Shahan declares that what is going on at the border an “invasion” as defined by the US and Texas constitutions and requests assistance from Pres. Biden and Gov. Abbott immediately.

(Full story HERE.)
--------------------------------------------------

** We are dedicated to bringing you Texas Politics, 365 days a year! Tips? texaspolitics365@gmail.com

Advertisement

For advertising opportunities, email us.

Biden's DOJ investigating Abbott's Operation Lone Star

[#TexasPolitics365]

Gov. Greg Abbott's Operation Lone Star border initiative is reportedly under investigation by the U.S. Justice Department (DOJ) for alleged civil rights violations, reports liberal news site Newsweek.

The investigation was first reported by The Texas Tribune and the nonprofit news organization ProPublica, which said that they had obtained state records.

(Full story HERE.)
--------------------------------------------------

** We are dedicated to bringing you Texas Politics, 365 days a year! Tips? texaspolitics365@gmail.com

Advertisement

For advertising opportunities, email us.

Bush Joins Calls To Declare Immigration Crisis An "Invasion" Of Southern Border

[#TexasPolitics365]

Land Commissioner George P. Bush this week became one of the few major candidates in Texas to call for the state to take the step of declaring illegal border crossings an “invasion” under the Constitution in order to expel migrants immediately, bypassing the federal government’s authority over immigration.

Bush, who will face off against Attorney General Ken Paxton in the May 24 Republican primary runoff, said Thursday that “Texas has been left with no choice” but to take drastic action because President Joe Biden — and Paxton — won’t.

(Full story HERE.)
--------------------------------------------------

** We are dedicated to bringing you Texas Politics, 365 days a year! Tips? texaspolitics365@gmail.com

Advertisement

For advertising opportunities, email us.

O'Rourke Says Abbott Border Inspections "Hurting Economy" Abbott Campaign Says Beto Is "In Denial" Over Border Crisis

[#TexasPolitics365]

Democrat candidate for governor Beto O’Rourke has seized on the trade stoppage at the state’s Southern border to blame Gov. Greg Abbott for hurting the state’s economy with what O’Rourke has labeled a “political stunt.”

Abbott said the order for Texas Department of Public Safety troopers to conduct enhanced inspections was in preparation for the lifting next month of Title 42, a pandemic-era rule used to quickly expel migrants.

In an email to media, Abbott campaign spokesperson Mark Miner said that O’Rourke was in “denial” of what is happening on the border.

“Beto O’ Rourke is completely out of touch with the border crisis that his friend President Biden created."

(Full story HERE.)
--------------------------------------------------

** We are dedicated to bringing you Texas Politics, 365 days a year! Tips? texaspolitics365@gmail.com

Advertisement

For advertising opportunities, email us.

O'Rourke Criticizes Biden For Ending Title 42 "Without A Plan"

[#TexasPolitics365]

 

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Beto O’Rourke knocked the Biden administration for failing to give border communities a plan for dealing with the number of migrants at their doorstep before saying he’ll end the pandemic-era emergency health order that allows federal officials to turn people away at the border next month.

“It does not make sense to end this until there is a real plan and the capacity in place to handle those and address those that come over,” O’Rourke said, in a media interview.

He has previously criticized Title 42, saying it is ineffective at stopping migrants at the border.

(Full story HERE.)
--------------------------------------------------

** We are dedicated to bringing you Texas Politics, 365 days a year! Tips? texaspolitics365@gmail.com

Advertisement

For advertising opportunities, email us.

Abbott Announces New Border Enforcement Efforts

[#TexasPolitics365]

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has announced new border enforcement efforts in the wake of the federal government's repeal of Title 42. He made the comments at a news conference in Weslaco Wednesday.

Abbott called the border situation "unprecedented" and "dangerous," citing estimates that up to 18,000 people could be illegally crossing the border each day in May, after Title 42 is repealed.

New strategies announced by Abbott at the news conference include:

- A zero tolerance policy for vehicles smuggling drugs and people across the border, resulting in increased inspections at the border

- Abbott says the state will provide charter buses to communities in which the Biden administration has dropped illegal immigrants to transport them direcly to Washington DC

- the state will create boat blockades and continue the use of shipping containers along the Texas-Mexico border, along with razor wire in low-lying areas to deter illegal crossings

- the border region will be lit at night in high traffic areas

(Full story HERE.)
--------------------------------------------------

** We are dedicated to bringing you Texas Politics, 365 days a year! Tips? texaspolitics365@gmail.com

Advertisement

For advertising opportunities, email us.

Texas Congressmen Warn of New "Explosion" Of Immigration After Biden Rule Change

[#TexasPolitics365]

As the Biden administration prepares to end Title 42 in May, senior Department of Homeland Security officials are warning the agency could see an explosion of migrants at the border.

Members of the Texas Congressional Delegation sent a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra — urging the administration to keep Title 42.  They argued it prevents Texas cities from becoming overwhelmed by migrants.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said Texas is already overwhelmed by the influx of migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border.

“The numbers are up threefold from when the Trump administration was there just a little over a year ago.

(Full story HERE
--------------------------------------------------

** We are dedicated to bringing you Texas Politics, 365 days a year! Tips? texaspolitics365@gmail.com

Advertisement

For advertising opportunities, email us.

Abbott Gets Border Patrol Endorsement

[#TexasPolitics365]

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has recurved the endorsement of  the national Border Patrol Council.

The Council announced their endorsement for Abbott Monday at the press conference, citing his efforts on the border.

Saturday, the governor made an appearance at the Hispanic Leadership Summit to officially announce his re-election campaign.

Abbott tweeted his thanks for the endorsement Monday.

"Texas will continue to work in collaboration with the men and women of the Border Patrol to make sure we do all we can to fulfill our commitment to America to keep our border secure.

Thank you, National Border Patrol Council, for the endorsement & for joining me in Edinburg today."

(Full story HERE.)
--------------------------------------------------

** We are dedicated to bringing you Texas Politics, 365 days a year! Tips? texaspolitics365@gmail.com

Advertisement

For advertising opportunities, email us.

Gov. Candidate West Attacks Abbott Over Treatment Of Border Troops

[#TexasPolitics365]

 

Republican gubernatorial candidate Allen West has attacked Gov. Greg Abbott's approach to securing the border and his treatment of national guard troops.

In a press conference Wednesday, West said Abbott was exaggerating the number of troops at the border for political reasons. West asserted that 6,600 had been deployed, and said Abbott refers always to "10,000 troops." 

West a former lieutenant colonel in the US Army, drew on his experience to say he would treat the soldiers better, in part, by offering them incentives such as property tax breaks.

"This is a state mission," said West, in a press release posted on his website. "Therefore, the state can determine the compensation package for service on the border such as in-state educational benefits, pay incentives, retirement, tax breaks (suspend property tax assessments), and newly created state level border awards (medals). None of this is being done at a creative level."

(Full story HERE.)
--------------------------------------------------

** We are dedicated to bringing you Texas Politics, 365 days a year! Tips? texaspolitics365@gmail.com

Advertisement

For advertising opportunities, email us.

Huffines Attacks Abbott Over Ongoing Border Crisis

[#TexasPolitics365]

Continuing to attack Republican Governor Greg Abbott from the political Right, primary challenger Don Huffines launched a new video late last week blaming Abbott for a week response to the ongoing illegal immigration/border crisis.

The video, which was posted on Huffines' Facebook page on December 23, features Abbott speaking in what is labeled as "2015" (with no day or month included) and in more recent videos labeled "2021" using similar language about getting tough on the border.

The video later features text and a woman's voice, saying, "Since Abbott has been governor of Texas, the invasion of our borders has reached 2 million illegal aliens."

The video does not mention that in the past year, the Biden administration has rolled back many of president Trump's measures to fight border incursions. The Abbott campaign has not responded to the video.

In his own plan to protect the border, located on his campaign website, Huffines says that as governor, he would ignore the Federal courts if they rule against efforts to protect the state against the "invasion."  

"Texas should begin the effort to stop the takeover of the Constitution by the courts by taking control of our borders–no matter what the federal courts say about it.

I don’t care how the courts rule; Texans must be kept safe. I will not ask the federal government for permission. I will do whatever it takes to permanently end the practice of illegal immigration into Texas."

(Full story here.)
--------------------------------------------------

** We are dedicated to bringing you Texas Politics, 365 days a year! Tips? texaspolitics365@gmail.com

Advertisement

For advertising opportunities, email us.

Over 165,000 Apprehended At Border

[#TexasPolitics365]

 

Texas law enforcement and soldiers sent to the border under a state initiative that began in March, Operation Lone Star, have encountered more than 165,000 people presumed to have illegally crossed the U.S.-Mexico border or are themselves smuggling people, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety.

The National Guard apprehended 84,000 of the 165,000.

Approximately 9,900 of the 165,000 were arrested on criminal trespassing charges, including 2,200 in the Del Rio, Texas, region, where tens of thousands of Haitian migrants came across the border in September and created a makeshift camp under the international bridge.

(Full story here.)
--------------------------------------------------

** We are dedicated to bringing you Texas Politics, 365 days a year! Tips? texaspolitics365@gmail.com

Advertisement

For advertising opportunities, email us.

Operation Lone Star Nabs Over 7,000 Illegals On State Crimes

[#TexasPolitics365]

More than 7,000 illegal immigrants have been arrested by Texas state agencies since Operation Lone Star began this spring, and thanks to the way the project works, not even the Biden administration can release them, reports the Western Journal.

Gov. Greg Abbott created Operation Lone Star as a counterpoint to the feeble attempts by the Biden administration to curb the flood of illegal immigration that’s inundating Texas border communities.

Although immigration violations are the sole purview of the federal government, Operation Lone Star arrests illegal immigrants for the state crimes they commit – from trespassing to drug possession. That means that the Biden administration cannot simply allow these illegal immigrants to be charged and then released into the interior of the U.S.

(Full story here.)
--------------------------------------------------

** We are dedicated to bringing you Texas Politics, 365 days a year! Tips? texaspolitics365@gmail.com

Advertisement

For advertising opportunities, email us.

$36 Million In New Funding Announced For Operation Lone Star Immigration Enforcement

[#TexasPolitics365]

Gov. Greg Abbott has announced that his Public Safety Office (PSO) will award more than $36.4 million in grant funding for law enforcement and prosecution activities in direct support of Operation Lone Star. 

As part of the 2022-2023 Fiscal Year's General Appropriation Act and the House Bill 9 supplemental appropriations bill, these grant funds will assist local law enforcement, prosecutors, jail administrators, medical examiners, and court administration officials in the execution of coordinated border security operations.

 

"Operation Lone Star is critical to our efforts to secure the border, and we will continue to invest in this operation in order to keep Texans safe," said Governor Abbott. "The grant funding provided through House Bill 9 ensures that our local partners along the border have the resources and support they need to respond to the border crisis."

(Full story here.)
--------------------------------------------------

** We are dedicated to bringing you Texas Politics, 365 days a year! Tips? texaspolitics365@gmail.com

Advertisement

For advertising opportunities, email us.

DHS Terminating Border Wall Building Contracts In Texas

[#TexasPolitics365]

The Department of Homeland Security will terminate all border-wall contracts within the Border Patrol’s Laredo and Rio Grande Valley sectors, the agency announced Friday. 

In late July, CBP announced the first two cancellations of border wall contracts issued during the Trump administration for the South Texas city of Laredo.

(Full story here.)
--------------------------------------------------

** We are dedicated to bringing you Texas Politics, 365 days a year! Tips? texaspolitics365@gmail.com

Advertisement

For advertising opportunities, email us.