In a decisive move on Monday, Texas Governor Greg Abbott enacted a series of groundbreaking laws aimed at fortifying the Texas-Mexico border.
This action comes in response to the escalating number of illegal immigrants entering the United States, a figure that has surged past 7 million since President Joe Biden assumed office in 2021.
One of the newly minted laws targets repeated illegal entry into Texas, establishing it as a state-level offense. Violators of this law could face a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. Furthermore, the law empowers authorities to mandate an offender's return to their country of origin. It also offers civil immunity and indemnification to local and state government officials, employees, and contractors against lawsuits arising from the enforcement of these provisions.
Governor Abbott expressed his disapproval of President Biden's handling of the border crisis in a statement, criticizing the federal government for its "deliberate inaction." He stated, "The federal government's failures have left Texas to fend for itself." He further added, "Today, I will sign three laws to better protect Texasand Americafrom President Biden's border neglect. These laws will help stop the tidal wave of illegal entry into Texas, add additional funding to build more border wall, and crackdown on human smuggling."
The legislative package also introduces a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years for individuals found guilty of human smuggling. Additionally, it allocates increased funding for border security.
However, the new laws have not been without criticism. White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre condemned the legislation, arguing that it "does not make the communities in Texas safer." She further claimed that the law aligns with the Republican tendency to "demonize and dehumanize immigrants."
Despite such criticism, the Texas administration remains steadfast in its commitment to bolstering border security and curbing illegal immigration.
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