bill adds requirements to any interstate border security compact

The text as introduced · 411 words

89R3048 JCG-F

By: Guillen
H.B. No. 176

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the provisions required in an interstate compact on

border security.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Chapter 794, Government Code, is amended by

adding Section 794.0001 to read as follows:

Sec. 794.0001. DEFINITION. In this chapter, "illegal

alien" means a person who:

(1) is not a citizen or national of the United States;

and

(2) is unlawfully present in the United States

according to the terms of 8 U.S.C. Section 1101 et seq.

SECTION 2. Section 794.003, Government Code, is amended to

read as follows:

Sec. 794.003. INTERSTATE COMPACT PROVISIONS. The compact

authorized by this chapter must provide for joint action among

compacting states on matters that include:

(1) sharing law enforcement intelligence on illegal

activity occurring at the border with Mexico;

(2) sharing state resources in order to build a

physical barrier, a comprehensive technological surveillance

system, or both, on state land to deter or detect illegal activity

occurring at the border with Mexico; [ and ]

(3) sharing other law enforcement resources to ensure

the protection of personnel and property ;

(4) to the greatest extent possible given the

resources available, ensuring the operational control of the

Texas-Mexico border through the detection and apprehension or

deflection of illegal aliens attempting to cross that border into

this state;

(5) enforcing federal immigration laws, including the

laws governing detecting, apprehending, detaining, prosecuting,

releasing, and monitoring illegal aliens; and

(6) providing mutual support for the resources,

including infrastructure, equipment, software, and personnel, that

are necessary or convenient to ensure that the purposes described

by this section are adequately supported and achieved .

SECTION 3. The changes in law made by this Act to Chapter

794, Government Code, apply only to an interstate compact entered

into under that chapter on or after the effective date of this Act.

An interstate compact entered into under that chapter before the

effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect on the

date the interstate compact was entered into, and the former law is

continued in effect for that purpose.

SECTION 4. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives

a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as

provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this

Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this

Act takes effect September 1, 2025.