Lawmakers presented bills that would require conducting rapid DNA tests along the U.S.-Mexico border and create a commission to study border security.
Lawmakers presented bills that would require conducting rapid DNA tests along the U.S.-Mexico border and create a commission to study border security.Austin — Troopers with the Texas Department of Public Safety would be authorized to conduct rapid DNA tests at the Texas-Mexico border to verify the familial relationship between adult and children under a bill considered by a Texas House panel Monday.
by Rep. Terri Leo Wilson, R-Galveston, was among eight immigration-related bills heard by lawmakers on the Texas House State Affairs committee. Other bills also presented would make it a third degree felony to knowingly hire an undocumented migrant for work, establish a commission on border security and illegal immigration, and prohibit a city or county from providing taxpayer money for legal services for someone in immigration court. None of the bills made it out of committee on Monday, but the 15 lawmakers on the panel could choose to send the bills to the House Calendars committee – which decides what bills make it onto the House floor for a vote – at a future meeting. Four of the seven bills heard Monday were authored by Republicans. GOP lawmakers in the House and Senate filed more than 60 bills related to immigration, looking to build on the signature policy proposal of President Donald Trump’s second term. The other three bills were authored by Democrats.desk before the session adjourns for the year. However, in laying out her bill, Leo Wilson said it’s important for Texas to take the lead when it comes to border security and immigration-related efforts. HB 256 would require DPS to enter into an agreement with the Department of Homeland Security to establish a program to conduct rapid DNA tests. DPS would conduct the tests if Border Patrol agents have reason to believe migrants they have arrested or detained are “misrepresenting” their familial relationship, the bill says.The legislation would require DPS to immediately destroy the DNA sample and any electronic record of anyone tested. The bill’s intent, Leo Wilson said, is to protect children who are subject to human trafficking and to eliminate fraudulent attempts by people trying to enter the country. “It is a valuable tool when there is suspicion that the child is not related,” Leo Wilson told the panel.Asked by Rep. Drew Darby, R-San Angelo, how the bill would make sure that situations where a parent is not related to a child – such as adoption – wouldn’t lead to rapid DNA tests, Leo Wilson said she would accept an amendment to strengthen the probable cause to make sure that doesn’t happen.Leo Wilson’s bill would require the federal government to fund the program so that Texas taxpayers are not on the hook for the bill. But Rep. Charlie Geren, R-Fort Worth, worried about what would happen if the federal government chose not to pay the state back for the cost of the program. The fiscal note attached to the bill said no “significant” fiscal impact to Texas is anticipated since the federal government would cover the costs.Geren said Texas has not been very successful in the last decade at getting reimbursed by the federal government when it comes to border security operations. Abbott has asked the Republican-controlled Congress to reimburse the $11 billion the state has spent on the governor’s border security crackdown. It’s unclear if Congress will follow-through on that request.Geren worried the bill would lead to a “huge” impact on taxpayers. Leo Wilson said she understood the financial implications of the bill but said it would be worth it to save children.“What is it worth to save a child from human trafficking?” Leo Wilson asked. “What price do we put on that?”Cities, counties and universities in Texas would be prohibited from using public funds to provide legal representation to individuals who are in immigration court.by Rep. Giovanni Capriglione said his bill would be to ensure that “hard-earned taxpayer dollars are spent wisely and responsibly.”Texans, Capriglione said, expect taxpayer funds to be used for funding public schools, maintaining vital infrastructure and supporting law enforcement. A county or city would not be allowed to funnel taxpayer money for a legal defense fund. Bexar and Harris County are two counties in Texas that have a legal defense fund for individuals in immigration court. Aside from counties, the bill would prohibit universities with law clinics from providing legal aid since universities receive state funds. “Redirecting public funds to immigration legal services for individuals who are unlawfully present undermines the trust taxpayers place in their government,” Capriglione said. “Our constituents deserve to know that every dollar they contribute is advancing the prosperity, safety and well-being of their communities.”Anne Chandler, the executive director of the Texas Immigration Law Council, said that legal representation is important because of the complexity of immigration laws. “People need legal assistance to help them obtain or restore their lawful presence,” Chandler said. “We need lawyers to help individuals, including asylum seekers, present their cases.”The bill doesn’t stop people in immigration court from receiving an attorney – just from taxpayer dollars from paying for one’s attorney, he said.Dutton gave his reasoning for why he filed the bill when presenting it to the House panel. “One of the things that kept jumping out at me was they’re all here and they’re doing fine and they’re here to work, but the people who are complaining about them are the people who are hiring them,” Dutton said. Dutton pointed out that employers who hire undocumented migrants failed to show up to testify for or against the bill. “You can’t have it both ways,” Dutton said. “We ought not to be complaining about undocumented folks when they’re not benefiting us.”Rep. Eddie Morales, D-Eagle Pass, wants the state to develop a comprehensive and detailed approach to border security and immigration. He presentedThe commission is meant to be a bipartisan commission made up of the state’s governor, lieutenant governor, House speaker, attorney general, state comptroller and three lawmakers from the House and Senate. The commission would meet quarterly and conduct a thorough review of how illegal and legal immigration is impacting the state.“It’s items like this that will work to serve our long term needs in our communities and our state’s border security efforts,” Morales said.Aarón is an Austin native who previously covered local government for The Kansas City Star and high school sports for the Knoxville News Sentinel. He is a University of Texas graduate, and Spanish is his first language.
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