Abbott vows to approve law allowing Texas police to detain undocumented immigrants

Texas Governor Plans to ‍Sign Law Allowing Police to Arrest Immigrants

In a bold move to combat illegal ⁣immigration, Texas Republican Governor Greg ​Abbott announced his intention to sign a ⁢new ⁤state law granting every police ‌officer in the Lone Star State the authority to arrest immigrants who have entered Texas illegally from another country.

During an interview with Fox News, Abbott emphasized‍ the need for Texas to take‌ decisive action to prevent illegal entry into the state. He stated, “Texas is having to step up and do⁣ even more to make​ sure that we ⁣deny illegal entry ⁢into ‌the state of Texas and ⁢as a result… in two weeks⁤ I’ll⁤ be signing [the] new law.”

Last month,⁢ Texas Republicans presented SB4, a bill that would empower local police to handle‌ immigration enforcement by making it a state misdemeanor to cross the Texas-Mexico border unlawfully. If passed, this legislation, dubbed “the ⁤strongest border security bill” by state⁤ officials, would also ‍grant judges the authority to order immigrants to return to Mexico.

Abbott’s latest efforts in​ the face of the Biden Administration’s open border policies come as the number of illegal crossings continues to rise. He expressed concern over the severity of the‌ problem, stating, “The ⁢problem is extraordinarily bad… because Joe ​Biden continues to lay out ‍the welcome mat welcoming illegal immigrants into the United States‍ of America.”

Alarming Statistics

House Republicans have cited data from the Federation for American ⁣Immigration Reform (FAIR) and Yale University, revealing that between 16.8 million and 29 million ‌illegal migrants ​currently reside⁤ in the U.S. The numbers indicate that approximately 3.8 million migrants have ⁣entered the country under President ‌Biden’s ⁢watch, overwhelming U.S. Border Patrol authorities. Border sources‍ have even reported encounters with nearly 475,000 ⁢migrants, including individuals on the FBI terror watch list.

Abbott emphasized the urgency of apprehending these individuals to ensure national security, stating, “That’s why Texas is having ‍to step up and apprehend as‌ many of these people as possible to make sure that they’re not posing a threat to our country, but⁣ this is‌ a very serious existential threat⁣ to⁢ our ‌country caused by Joe Biden. And that’s ‌exactly why Texas is taking extraordinary steps ⁢to try to crack ​down on it.”

Challenges and Controversies

Under Abbott’s leadership, Texas previously ​redirected tens of thousands of migrants to so-called sanctuary cities run by Democrat​ officials, which drew ​criticism ⁢from these officials. Last week, Abbott took further action by bussing‌ approximately 70,000 immigrants to Democrat-run⁤ cities across the nation.

In an effort to reduce the ‌number of illegal immigrants entering the U.S., Texas‌ officials deployed deterrence buoys in the Rio Grande River earlier ‌this year. However, the state faced ⁣legal battles with the Department of ​Justice, resulting in a court ⁣order to remove the barriers.

Undeterred, Abbott expressed his⁤ determination to fight for Texas’‌ border security‍ measures, stating that the state would take the issue to the‌ Supreme Court if necessary.

How ⁢does Governor Abbott believe granting police officers the authority to arrest ‌immigrants entering Texas illegally will help ​secure ⁣the state’s borders?

Ating, “We’re seeing across ⁢the board, whether it be human trafficking, drug smuggling,⁣ cartel activities, or gangs, issues that Texans are having to face every single day.” Abbott believes that granting police officers the authority to arrest immigrants who ‌have entered Texas illegally ‌will ​serve as a⁤ significant deterrent and help secure the⁤ state’s borders.

However, critics argue that this law could lead to ⁤racial ⁢profiling and unfair⁣ targeting of immigrants. They believe that⁢ empowering local police to handle immigration enforcement may result in increased harassment and discrimination ‍against minority communities. They argue that the focus should be on comprehensive immigration reform ⁣rather than punitive measures that may infringe on the rights of immigrants.

It​ is important to note that immigration enforcement falls under federal jurisdiction, and states typically do not ⁢have the⁣ authority to‌ enforce immigration⁢ laws. However, Texas, along with other ⁣border states, has been grappling with the consequences of illegal immigration for years and has often taken matters into its own hands.

This move by Governor Abbott follows other efforts by the state to address the issue of illegal immigration. Last month, Texas deployed National Guard troops and state troopers to help secure⁢ the border, as part of Abbott’s Operation Lone ​Star initiative. The governor aims to send⁢ a strong message that ‌Texas will not tolerate illegal immigration and will take decisive action to ⁣protect its borders.

Abbott’s announcement has received mixed reactions ​from both sides of the‌ political spectrum. Supporters argue that this law is necessary to ensure the safety and security ‍of Texas ⁣residents. They believe that enforcing immigration laws is the responsibility of the state ‌and that this law will⁤ help deter illegal crossings and criminal activities associated with illegal immigration.

On the other hand, opponents argue that this law is discriminatory and goes against the spirit of inclusivity and fairness. ⁣They believe that border security ⁢and immigration enforcement should be left‍ to federal agencies and that state-level interventions will only complicate the issue further.

As the debate continues,⁢ it is clear that the issue of illegal immigration remains a contentious one. The new law proposed by Governor Abbott represents his determination to address the challenges posed by illegal crossings. ⁤However, the effectiveness‍ and potential consequences of such a law will only become clear‌ once it is put into⁤ practice. In the meantime, the country will continue to grapple with finding a comprehensive and compassionate solution to the complex issue ‌of immigration.