Texas House passes three immigration bills after contentious night of debate

"Neave Criado also said HB 4 could be thwarted by Mexico if officials there refuse to accept non-Mexican migrants returned by Texas law enforcement."

"Spiller said his bill doesn’t preempt federal law and only enforces laws already in place."

"If the bill is approved, the state could have about 100 miles of border barrier by September 2026 — on top of barriers built by the federal government."

"The Texas House in the early morning hours Thursday approved three bills aimed at beefing up border security, one that would appropriate more than $1 billion for additional border barriers, one that would allow police officers to send back migrants to who cross the border illegally and another that would increase penalties for human smugglers."

"The state has issued $1.5 billion in contracts since September 2021 to build the original 40 miles of border barrier; as of August, contractors had erected 10 miles of it in different parts of the border, including in Starr, Cameron, Val Verde and Webb counties."

"Spiller said that if that becomes an issue, Abbott will u201cbe able to work that outu201d with the governors of the four Mexican states that border Texas."

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"Spiller said that if that becomes an issue, Abbott will u201cbe able to work that outu201d with the governors of the four Mexican states that border Texas."

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"State Rep. Armando Lucio Walle, D-Houston, confronted Harris during a break, saying itu2019s unfair for Republicans to cut off debate when theyu2019re proposing legislation that u201churts our community.u201d"

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"Rep. Joe Moody, D-El Paso, said the bill will not deter the criminal organizations that drive human smuggling on the border."

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"But Guillen said the state needs to send a u201cstrong messageu201d that people smuggling immigrants into Texas will face stiff punishment."

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"u201cThere is nothing unfair about ordering someone back from where they came if they arrived here illegally,u201d Spiller said."

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"HB 4, sponsored by state Rep. David Spiller, R-Jacksboro, would create a new state crime for illegally entering Texas from Mexico, authorize state police to arrest violators and allow officers to return migrants to a port of entry and order them to return to Mexico."

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"Spiller said that scenario would seem unlikely because a U.S. citizen hasnu2019t been wrongfully removed from the country."

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"u201cUltimately, if your goal is to nail the big-time traffickers and smugglers with these provisions, you are not going to get them, this law will not touch them,u201d Moody said."

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"Tempers flared when state Rep. Cody Harris, R-Palestine, made a motion to block new amendments, a rare move used to end a debate sooner."

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"The bill was previously approved by the Senate and now goes to the governoru2019s office for Abbottu2019s consideration."

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"State Rep. Victoria Neave Criado, D-Dallas, said sheu2019s concerned that the bill could lead to officers mistakenly arresting U.S. citizens who live on the border if they donu2019t have proof of citizenship handy."

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"Spiller said his bill doesnu2019t preempt federal law and only enforces laws already in place."

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"The state has spent billions, and lawmakers are proposing to spend $1.5 billion more, as part of Abbottu2019s Operation Lone Star."

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"House approves more border wall money The House voted 84-61 Wednesday to approve House Bill 6, sponsored by state Rep. Jacey Jetton, R-Richmond, which would appropriate $1.5 billion to fund Abbottu2019s efforts to build border barriers along different parts of the 1,200-mile Texas-Mexico border."

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"House approves more border wall money The House voted 84-61 Wednesday to approve House Bill 6, sponsored by state Rep. Jacey Jetton, R-Richmond, which would appropriate $1.5 billion to fund Abbottu2019s efforts to build border barriers along different parts of the 1,200-mile Texas-Mexico border."

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"The package of bills continues the stateu2019s recent push to deter illegal immigration at the Texas-Mexico border, which has been a priority for Gov. Greg Abbott."

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"Stricter sentences for human smuggling approved In a 90-57 vote, the House also passed Senate Bill 4, sponsored by state Rep. Ryan Guillen, R-Rio Grande City."

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"When they returned, Phelan called for the dozens of pending amendments to be heard."

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"u201cOur goal in the Legislature is to make sure that our law enforcement has all the tools in the toolbox that they need to secure our border, and this is one of them,u201d Jetton said."

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"Jetton said the bill also would allow the state to also purchase more floating barriers to place on the Rio Grande."

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"After that motion passed, House Speaker Dade Phelan called a break as members posed parliamentary inquiries about the motion and the House stood at ease for hours."

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"Earlier this year, Abbott ordered a 1,000-foot-long string of buoys, separated by serrated saw blades and supporting a submerged mesh net, to be installed in the Rio Grande at Eagle Pass."

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