Texas would enforce immigration laws under a bill that Senate panel advances

AUSTIN — Texas law enforcement officers would start enforcing immigration laws under a bill advanced by a Senate panel Thursday.

The proposal, by GOP Rep. Ryan Guillen of Rio Grande City, and sponsored by Sen. Brian Birdwell, R-granbury, would create a new crime for a migrant who enters Texas illegally. It also establishes the “Texas Border Force” under the Texas Rangers and forbids local municipalities from limiting the authority or jurisdiction of the unit.

“Our hope is that the border protection force can help ease the burden on current resources and establish a program that can maintain operations in the border region,” Birdwell said.

The committee approved the bill on a 3-2 party line vote. It will now go to the full Senate.

The original proposal drew criticism and outrage because it would have allowed for U.S. citizens to apply to be on the unit and granted them authority to arrest or detain migrants that entered illegally — but only if they received the approval of Gov. Greg Abbott and the Public Safety Commission. Opponents said it would have created a “vigilante” unit.

Birdwell’s proposal removes citizens completely and only allows commissioned peace officers to serve on the new border force. The chief of the Texas Rangers, Jason Taylor, would serve as the unit chief. He would report to Department of Public Safety-director Steve Mccraw.

The new unit is also a solution to Operation Lone Star — the multibillion-dollar border security effort using Texas National Guard members and DPS officers — Birdwell said.

“Our hope is that the border protection force can help ease the burden on current resources and establish a program that can maintain operations in the border region,” he said.

A migrant who enters Texas from Mexico illegally would be charged with improper entry, and would be charged with a Class A misdemeanor, which carries a penalty of up to a year in jail and a $4,000 fine. The charge could escalate to a felony if a migrant has previously been convicted of a crime.

The proposal will still likely test the limits of how far a state can go in enforcing federal immigration law.