Texas Senate passes bill allowing state law enforcement to arrest illegal migrants
https://justthenews.com/nation/states/ce...-arrest-foreign
Bill creates a state criminal offense of improper entry from a foreign nation.
By The Center Square Staff
By Bethany Blankley
Updated: April 22, 2023 - 11:48pm


The Texas Senate has passed a bill authorizing Texas law enforcement officers to arrest foreign nationals who’ve illegally entered Texas from Mexico.

SB 2424, which creates a state criminal offense of improper entry from a foreign nation, filed by Sen. Brian Birdwell, R-Grandbury, passed the Senate along party lines by a vote of 18-12.

Birdwell argues the federal government has abrogated its duty to enforce immigration law and “Texas had to fill the gaps.” However, he also said in a statement, “Texas peace officers would not be enforcing federal immigration laws, but rather a new state-level crime created by the bill: illegal entry into Texas from a foreign nation.”

The bill would create a new offense, “improper entry from foreign nation,” in state penal code. It clarifies that those committing the offense are an illegal “alien” who “enters or attempts to enter this state from a foreign nation at any location other than a lawful point of entry; eludes examination or inspection by United States immigration officers; or attempts to enter or obtains entry to this state from a foreign nation by an intentionally false or misleading representation or the intentional concealment of a material fact.”

SB 2424 also would authorize state law enforcement officers to arrest those who violate the law anywhere in Texas.

State law enforcement officers through Gov. Greg Abbott’s border security mission, Operation Lone Star, are already arresting illegal foreign nationals violating state crimes. These crimes range from criminal trespass, to burglary, to assault, to murder, to trafficking of people and drugs, among others. Texas law enforcement officers do not enforce federal immigration laws.-- excerpt, rest at link above --