Poll after poll shows Texas voters rank immigration and the border as the most pressing issues.
U.S. Rep. Colin Allred , D-Dallas, speaks to supporters during a stop for his U.S. Senate campaign in McAllen on Feb. 17, 2024.We’re testing using AI-powered tools to provide an audio version of this story. While this audio recording is machine-generated, the story was written by human journalists.to receive twice-monthly updates on our year-long initiative dedicated to boosting civic engagement and chronicling how democracy is experienced in Texas.In particular, he wants to talk about how U.S.
Cruz, asked about the attacks on his alleged intransigence on the bipartisan immigration package, said he opposed the bill because it was “terrible policy” that failed to “actually secure the border.” He said he’s also helped pass less visible but important border measures — like allowing real-time data sharing between Border Patrol and the Coast Guard — and has seen his own “commonsense” bills get shot down by Democrats.
Even with his more proactive approach, though, Allred faces an uphill climb shaking his party’s brand among Texas voters, whothey trust Republicans over Democrats on border and immigration matters. Andrew Smith, a political science professor at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, said Allred is walking a tightrope.
The proposal would have restarted construction on a border wall, restricted asylum eligibility, required migrants to wait out asylum claims in Mexico and stiffened penalties for overstaying visas. Democrats panned the bill for focusing only on tougher enforcement and said it was too draconian. That package, which failed to gain traction in the GOP-controlled House, would fund more border personnel and surveillance technology and require employers to eventually use E-Verify, the electronic service that checks employees’ immigration status. It also proposes expanding visa programs for temporary and skilled workers; granting some undocumented immigrants legal status if they pay a fee and pass a criminal background check; and establishing “humanitarian campuses” at busy areas of the U.S.
Allred said physical barriers make “all the sense in the world” in certain spots and should be treated as “one component” of the country’s border security system. He contrasted that with Trump’s idea of building a wall “from sea to shining sea.” Asked about Nungaray’s murder and Cruz’s contention that his preferred policies were to blame, Allred said, “I just think Jocelyn’s murder was a tragedy, and I can't think of anything more shameful than someone like Ted Cruz attempting to use that as a political attack.”At the same time, Allred has sought to refocus attention on Cruz’s border record, questioning whether the GOP senator’s hawkish stances have actually produced results.
Allred has seized on the “political cover” comment, framing it as an admission that Republicans opposed the bill to deny Democrats a political win. A TV ad recently launched by Allred’s campaign attacks Cruz for opposing what was “actually a good plan backed by sheriffs and border officers.” Cruz outlined a handful of bills and amendments he has passed into law with support from Democrats, including a measure providing the Coast Guard with a long-range radar system at its South Padre Island station.
Texas Politics Texas Policy Texas Government Border Border Security U.S./Mexico Border Politics Congress Immigration Ted Cruz Colin Allred
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