Gov. Abbott makes illegal immigration a state crime in Texas
OAN’s Taylor Tinsley
1:23 PM – Tuesday, December 19, 2023
Governor Greg Abbott has signed a bill making illegal immigration a crime in the state of Texas.
Abbott (R-Texas) signed a trio of bills on Monday, but SB4 has been highly criticized as one of the cruelest state laws against illegal immigration in recent U.S. history.
The Republican governor said the bills’ goal is to stop the tidal wave of illegal immigrants making their way into the Lone Star State.
It also creates a state criminal offense for anyone coming in from a foreign nation illegally.
“For repeat offenders,” Abbott said, “it creates the offense of illegal reentry with a potential sentence term of up to 20-years.”
Abbott affirmed President Biden’s “deliberate inaction” to secure the border has led Texas to fend for itself.
The Republican also pointed out how rising immigration also poses a national security crisis. He said under President Trump there were 11 people on the terrorist watch list that were apprehended, and under President Biden that number has skyrocketed to 294.
SB4 is set to take effect in March 2024.
Civil rights groups on Tuesday, including The American Civil Liberties Union and the Texas Civil Rights Project, filed a lawsuit against the measure arguing it’s unconstitutional.
Also in response to the new law on Tuesday, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said it was just another political move by Republicans who continue to “dehumanize” illegal immigrants.
Abbott signed two other bills on Monday, allocating $1.5 billion to build more border barriers and walls, and $40 million to the Texas Department of Public Safety.
The other measure creates a mandatory minimum 10-year prison sentence for smuggling illegal immigrants and a 5-year minimum sentence for operating a stash house.
Mexico’s president, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, said he plans on challenging the “inhumane” law.
“The foreign ministry is already working to challenge this law. Plus, we will always be against these measures. I want to tell our fellow countrymen and migrants, we will be defending them,” said Lopez Obrador. “Abbott wants to gain popularity. He will win nothing but the opposite – he will lose sympathy because there are a lot of Mexicans in Texas.”
Meanwhile in FY2024 to date, CBP has encountered more than 240,000 migrants.
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What concerns have been raised about SB4 and how has it been criticized?
Governor Greg Abbott Signs Bill Making Illegal Immigration a Crime in Texas
Governor Greg Abbott has recently signed a bill that makes illegal immigration a crime in the state of Texas. The bill, known as SB4, has raised concerns and has been criticized as one of the harshest state laws against illegal immigration in recent U.S. history. Governor Abbott, a Republican, signed this bill as part of a trio of bills aimed at addressing illegal immigration in Texas.
The goal of these bills, according to Governor Abbott, is to put a stop to the influx of illegal immigrants entering the Lone Star State. SB4 not only criminalizes illegal immigration but also creates a state criminal offense for anyone coming into the state from a foreign nation illegally. Governor Abbott highlighted the issue of repeat offenders and stated that SB4 includes an offense of illegal reentry, which carries a potential sentence of up to 20 years.
Furthermore, Governor Abbott pointed out the rising concerns regarding national security due to the increase in illegal immigration. He mentioned how during the presidency of Donald Trump, 11 individuals on the terrorist watchlist were apprehended, while under President Biden, that number has skyrocketed to 294. This alarming increase in national security risks further emphasizes the need for stricter measures against illegal immigration.
SB4 is set to take effect in March 2024. However, civil rights groups such as the American Civil Liberties Union and the Texas Civil Rights Project have filed a lawsuit against the measure, arguing that it is unconstitutional. They believe that this law could potentially harm Black and Brown individuals the most and violate their civil rights.
In response to the new law, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre condemned the move and accused Republicans of ”dehumanizing” illegal immigrants. She dismissed the bill as another political move by Republicans.
Governor Abbott also signed two other bills on Monday, which allocated $1.5 billion for the construction of more border barriers and walls, and $40 million to the Texas Department of Public Safety. Additionally, another measure included in the trio of bills establishes mandatory minimum prison sentences for smuggling illegal immigrants and operating stash houses.
Mexico’s president, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, expressed his opposition to the law, deeming it inhumane. He stated that the Mexican foreign ministry is working to challenge this law and that they will always stand against such measures, defending their fellow countrymen and migrants.
The signing of SB4 into law marks a significant development in the ongoing debate surrounding illegal immigration in Texas. While some applaud the governor’s actions as a necessary step to protect the state and its citizens, others argue that it infringes on civil rights and targets vulnerable populations. The future of this law will likely be determined by the outcome of the legal challenge filed by civil rights groups and the response from the federal government.
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