Governor Greg Abbott is expected to sign a border security bill that would make illegal entry to Texas a state crime. It鈥檚 one of several immigration enforcement bills that Abbott pushed for during the special session.
He signed a bill in November that increases the penalties for human smugglers and the operators of stash houses. And across the state, immigrant advocates already have been warning their community about the new laws, urging them not to panic but to be prepared.
They鈥檝e hosting workshops and distributed flyers and pocket-sized 鈥淜now Your Rights鈥� cards in English and Spanish. Participants have been told they have the right to remain silent and they can ask to speak to a lawyer. They鈥檝e also been warned not to give false information or present false documents.
At a recent meeting in Garland, State Representative Ana-Maria Ramos said she doesn鈥檛 think law enforcement has the resources or time to do what has typically been the responsibility of the federal government.
鈥淥ver and over again, what we鈥檝e been told by different police officers, they want to prioritize the safety of the citizens,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hey want to utilize the time as best possible which is fighting crime. They don鈥檛 want another unfunded mandate when they themselves are not trained in immigration law.鈥�
Jacqueline Sanchez Martinez, 21, said she worries about family members, especially her parents who are undocumented.
鈥淚鈥檝e been here my whole life. You know, my brother, he has DACA,鈥� she said. 鈥淓ven if you have any sort of protection, whether you鈥檙e a resident, whatever you are, you鈥檙e still being targeted.鈥�
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