Weekly Newsletter
Weekly Newsletter
Alliance for a Safe Texas - Newsletter for Week of 5/16 with Latest Action Items
Latest from the Texas Border
As Title 42 expired at 11:59 p.m. on May 11th, massive surges were expected at the southern border. While some large waves did cross illegally across Texas sectors in the days leading up to the lifting of Title 42, the anticipated numbers were somewhat thwarted by a few varying factors.
One of the many factors, in an unprecedented measure, Texas guardsmen began repelling hordes of would-be illegal aliens in Brownsville. In my experience of over two years at the southern Texas border, I have never seen Texas forces do anything but aid illegal aliens onto Texas soil. Shocked at the initial reporting, I immediately reached out to Todd Bensman, a senior fellow with the Center for Immigration Studies, who confirmed the continuous efforts of Texas guardsmen.
Another factor, according to Ben Bergquam, Customs and Border Protection is busing illegal aliens to ports of entry to process them under the new (and still unlawful) guidelines ordered by Mayorkas, as the numbers are then not showing up under the traditional “apprehension” statistics.
Unfortunately, this apparent slowing of massive numbers of illegal aliens into the state and country is assuredly temporary. Moving along to the Texas Capitol, for many, last week was an active week with a lot of movement, some good and others not so good.
Legislative Updates
HB 20, what some advocate groups painted as the necessary “IT” border bill, was sent back to the House State Affairs Committee after a Point of Order (POO) presented by Rep Anchia “on the grounds that the caption does not give reasonable notice of the bill’s contents and the bill has more than one subject.” However, some of the main elements of HB 20 were inserted into HB 7 via an amendment, mainly the creation (with strict limitations) of the Border Protection Unit, the creation of a separate court to help alleviate increased court cases from Operation Lone Star.
Next Steps: HB 20 was sent back to the House State Affairs committee. At this point those advocating for the bill will have to rely on a special session being called upon with border security on the call. Otherwise, advocating for other bills and strengthening the verbiage of HB 7 in the senate is the next best step.
HB 7 by Rep. Guillen “Relating to border protection and economic development services, programs, and other measures, including establishing educational programs and the border protection unit, in this state to address the effects of ongoing disasters, including disasters caused by transnational and other criminal activity and public health threats,” was voted out of the House last Wednesday.
Several amendments were presented and voted on the House floor. One amendment by Representative Tinderholt, attempted to remove the requirement for County Commissioner approval for the newly created Border Protection Unit to operate in a county, a much needed amendment. Unfortunately, the amendment failed, as the required aye votes were not obtained.
While the bill needs some major revisions to some elements to be properly effective, overall, this bill creates unprecedented and much needed actions for Texas and will end up being the “IT” border bill of the session (along with the Border Interstate Compact SB 1403) long overdue positive actions for the state.
Next Steps: HB 7 has been sent to the Senate and is currently scheduled for a hearing in the Senate Border Security Committee this Thursday, May 18th, at 8:30 a.m.
Action Item: Contact the members of the Senate Border Security committee and ask them to vote favorably for HB 7. (Contact information listed at the bottom of newsletter)
HB 800 by Rep. Guillen “Relating to the punishment for certain criminal conduct involving the smuggling of persons or the operation of a stash house; increasing criminal penalties” was voted out of the House and sent to the Senate. Essentially providing a much-needed increase to criminal penalties for smuggling under a declared state of disaster.
Next Step: HB 800 has been sent to the Senate and is currently scheduled for a hearing in the Senate Border Security Committee this Thursday, May 18th, at 8:30 a.m.
Action Item: Contact the members of the Senate Border Security committee and ask them to vote favorably for HB 800. (Contact information listed at the bottom of newsletter)
HB 3782 by Rep. Guillen “Relating to establishing the Border Security Advisory Council and the Border Protection Task Force.”
Next Step: HB 3782 has been voted out of the House and sent to the Senate and referred to the Border Security Committee.
Action Item: Contact the members of the Senate Border Security committee and ask them to ensure that HB 3782 receives a committee hearing and is voted favorably out of committee. (Contact information listed at the bottom of the newsletter)
HB 73 by Rep. Murr, sponsored by Sen. Birdwell, “Relating to limitation of certain liability of owners, lessees, and occupants of land in connection with livestock and agricultural land” needed to help alleviate the burden of liability from incidents out of fellow Texans control directly related to damage inflicted due to the border crisis and nature disasters.
Next Step: Voted out of the House and voted favorably out of Senate State Affairs committee. Now waiting to be heard on the Senate Floor for a vote.
Action Item: Ensure that HB 73 makes it to the Senate floor for a vote. Contact your State Senator and ask them to vote YES for HB 73.
On the way to the Governor’s Desk
HB 279 by Rep. Jetton “Relating to the prosecution and punishment of the offense of trafficking of persons”.
SB 1403 by Sen. Parker and Sponsored by Rep. Spiller, “Relating to an interstate compact for border security, including building a border wall and sharing state intelligence and resources.” This is a HUGE positive bill that Senator Hall began advocating for years ago. Long overdue and thankful is on its way to the Governor’s Desk.
SB 1484 by Sen. Creighton and Sponsored by Rep. Holland, “Relating to a border operations training program for peace officers employed by local law enforcement agencies.” A good bill allowing for police departments to gain real on the ground border experience that will be useful in combating potential smuggling operations in various cities across Texas.
This Week
Alliance for a Safe Texas plans on being at the Capitol for Thursday’s Senate Border Security Committee hearing testifying in support of HB 7, HB 800 and HB 4635.
Contacts for Senate Border Security Committee Members
Senator Brian Birdwell – R (Chairman) Phone: (512) 463-0122
Senator Pete Flores – R (Vice Chair) Phone: (512) 463-0124
Senator Cesar Blanco – D Phone: (512) 463-0129
Senator Juan (Chuy) Hinojosa – D Phone: (512) 463-0120
Senator Phil King – R Phone: (512) 463-0110
To all of those who support Alliance for a Safe Texas THANK YOU! We could not advocate for Texas without YOUR help!
For Texas,
Sheena Rodriguez
I did a double take when I read :
"Another factor, according to Ben Bergquam, Customs and Border Protection is busing illegal aliens to ports of entry to process them under the new (and still unlawful) guidelines ordered by Mayorkas, as the numbers are then not showing up under the traditional “apprehension” statistics."
Are they encountering them in the field between POE's, and then bussing them, or are they providing busses in Mexico to route them to a POE? Surely it much be the former, although with our out of control Federal apparatus that has been hijacked by the globalists one world government types, one can't be sure.
At any rate, this amounts to a cover-up of sorts, as people apprehended or encountered between POE's statistically need to be counted as apprehended (or encountered). $10 bucks says that those who are shipped to a POE are NOT going to be counted as having entered the country illegally. ( It is illegal to enter the US at a place other that a designated POE.)
Thus it is that the government is going to now say that an illegal entrant is not an illegal entrant because we converted them to legal entrants because we bussed them to a POE to make their asylum claim!!!!
I am saddened that the Border Patrol people are participating in all this with nary a public peep or a walking away from it all. On that note, I am tired of the old excuse (song) about "We have families to feed". Sorry Charlie - Did you sign up for a paycheck, or did you sign up to protect the country? If the former, then be honest about it and come clean that you will do whatever your bosses tell you to do, even if it destroys the nation and that your morality ends at your paycheck. You are being used as front desk clerks into Hotel America. If the latter, then WALK AWAY - and be noisy about it. There IS standing for a conscientious objection.