Greg Abbott Signs Bill Making It a State Crime to Enter Texas Illegally

HawkTheSlayer wrote:https://www.nationalreview.com/news/greg-abbott-signs-bill-making-it-a-state-crime-to-enter-texas-illegally/

Governor Greg Abbott (R., Texas) signed a bill into law on Monday making it a state crime to enter Texas illegally and empowering state and local police to arrest and deport illegal immigrants, in what the bill’s critics claim is unconstitutional.

Senate Bill 4 gives state and local government the authority to arrest illegal immigrants who enter Texas from Mexico between officially designated ports of entry. Under SB 4, those who unlawfully cross the border can be charged with a state misdemeanor and face up to one year in prison. A felony charge, carrying a maximum sentence of 20 years, can be leveled if illegal immigrants are charged with additional crimes or don’t comply with a judge’s orders.

The legislation also authorizes state judges to deport illegal aliens to Mexico if they see fit, rather than pursue prosecution under federal law. Last month, both the state senate and house passed the bill, which will take effect in March now that it’s been enacted.