(WBAP/KLIF) — Governor Greg Abbott signed six bills into law, Thursday, to address the continuing crisis at the border. Abbott credited the Texas Legislature for passing legislation to compensate for what he called the Biden Administration’s failure at the border.
The governor signed SB 1900 into law which increases penalties for crimes committed by drug cartels, designating them as foreign terrorist organizations. The legislation is aimed to help law enforcement agencies fight drug smuggling and human trafficking. SB 1133 provides reimbursements for farmers and ranchers whose property has been damaged by the droves of illegal migrants crossing their land. SB 602 authorizes Border Patrol agents to arrest those breaking Texas law, while SB 423 permits the use of drones by law enforcement to secure the border.
According to Director Steve McCraw, the Department of Public Safety can now deploy a bouy barricade system to deter migrants from crossing rivers. The new laws also provide peace officers with border training, the building of the border wall, and sharing cartel intel with neighboring border states.
Information via Governor Abbott’s Press Release:
Senate Bill 423 (Paxton/Wilson, T.M.) provides Texas military forces the authority to use unmanned aircrafts as part of an operation, exercise, or mission. The bill legalizes the use of drones for search and recovery missions after natural disasters and for monitoring the Texas-Mexico border as part of Operation Lone Star.
Senate Bill 602 (Birdwell/Harless) expands the authority of U.S. Border Patrol agents who have completed a DPS training program to include arrest, search, and seizure at established border checkpoints and points of entry for felony offenses under Texas law. Current law only allows agents to detain certain individuals at these locations.
Senate Bill 1133 (Blanco/King, T.) creates a grant program to compensate agricultural landowners up to $75,000 for property damage caused by trespassers committing a border crime, such as the smuggling of persons, evading arrest, human trafficking, or a drug offense. Increased migrant traffic and law enforcement activity has left many landowners with significant financial losses and property damage.
Senate Bill 1403 (Parker/Spiller) authorizes the Governor to coordinate and execute an interstate compact for border security among interested states without congressional approval. The compact will allow participating states to share law enforcement intelligence and resources for heightened detection and deterrence of illegal border activity and will further protect personnel and property to overcome continued shortcomings of existing federal border policy.
Senate Bill 1484 (Creighton/Holland) creates a collaborative border operations training program through DPS for peace officers employed by local law enforcement agencies along the border. The bill will allow DPS to share expertise in identifying and preventing of transnational criminal activity to local authorities.
Senate Bill 1900 (Birdwell/Guillen) designates Mexican drug cartels and criminal organizations as foreign terrorist organizations in the State of Texas and increases penalties for the destruction of illegal drugs and the operation of stash houses. This bill also adds foreign terrorist organizations to current intelligence databases and allows local entities to seek public nuisance claims against them. Governor Abbott issued an executive order last September designating Mexican drug cartels as terrorist organizations and has requested President Joe Biden take similar federal action.
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