Border Security UPDATE: House Moves Bonnens HB 11 to Senate

House border security plan authorizes hiring of 300 state troopers Texas Insider Report: AUSTIN Texas The Texas House of Representatives has approved a comprehensive border security plan. House Bill 11 by State Rep. Dennis Bonnen (at left) chairman of the House Ways & Means Committee passed the House on March 19th and authorizes the hiring of 300 state troopers for operations along the Texas border. It also makes it illegal to induce a person to enter the country illegally and toughens anti-smuggling laws. It also creates the Texas Transnational Crime Intelligence Center" to share intelligence among state and local law enforcement agencies.

This bill sets forth a comprehensive long-term plan to improve security along the Texas border" said State Rep. Gary VanDeaver (R-House Dist. 1 New Boston) a co-author of the legislation. While the federal government has failed to address the border crisis Texas is taking important steps to protect the safety of our families and communities VanDeaver said.

On third and final reading the comprehensive border security & anti-human smuggling proposal passed by the House of Representatives on an almost identical vote as the day before 131-12. HB 11 which Texas State Representative Roberto R. Alonzo (D-Dallas) supported saying it would address a problem that has been ongoing for too long not only in Texas but across the US.

HB 11 was fine-tuned after much debate and serious consideration to diminish and put at rest any fears that anti-smuggling provisions in the original version were too broad and easily open to misinterpretation said Alonzo. As originally drafted some lawmakers like myself were concerned that the original measure might unintentionally target and criminalize pastors staff and volunteers at immigration clinics and other advocates like them who work hard every day to eliminate the heinous crimes caused by human smuggling Alonzo said.

HB 11 passed the House on a 131-12 vote.