That was the normal process in a House State Affairs Committee Thursday morning, which heard an identical version of the bill. Committee hearings over immigration-enforcement bills this year have featured dozens of witnesses for and against the measures. The illegal entry bill has been before lawmakers several times this year but has failed to make it to Abbott’s desk due to infighting between Republicans over different versions of the proposals. Abbott’s order for lawmakers to address immigration and border security during the current special session of the Texas Legislature, the fourth Abbott has called since late May. Opponents of the sweeping proposal say it conflicts with federal law and will lead to racial profiling.īoth SB 3 and SB 4 are efforts to address Gov. It also permits a judge or county magistrate to order the migrant returned to a port of entry, but only after all identifying information is obtained and cross-referenced with state and federal databases. The charge would increase to a state felony for a subsequent offense. Senate Bill 4 creates a state crime for unauthorized entry into Texas from a foreign country, a class B misdemeanor on first offense. The Texas Senate took the same steps on a separate bill, Senate Bill 3, that appropriates more than $1.5 billion for construction of border barriers on the state’s southern border. Instead, SB 4 was advanced and debated on the Senate floor just a few hours later. The regular process would have allowed members of the public the opportunity to testify in favor or against a major proposal. This rapid pace was only made possible after the chamber voted to suspend standard rules of procedure and hold a committee hearing with little advance notice. The Texas Senate gave final approval to Senate Bill 4 late Thursday night - just days after the state’s current special legislative session began. The Texas Legislature has moved one step closer to passing a controversial immigration-enforcement bill that would create a new state offense for unauthorized entry into Texas.
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