State of Texas Operational Protections Act STOP Act
Impact
If enacted, HB7074 would enable Texas authorities to build walls and fences and implement various security measures along critical sections of the international border. This could significantly alter state laws related to immigration control and border management by granting more power to state officials like the Governor and the Texas Department of Public Safety. The bill also includes provisions for the state to seek reimbursement from the federal government for costs incurred in constructing these barriers and implementing protective measures.
Summary
House Bill 7074, titled the State of Texas Operational Protections Act (STOP Act), aims to allow the state of Texas to take enhanced measures for border security. The bill asserts Texas's right to implement operational protections along the southern border, including the construction of physical barriers in areas deemed inadequately protected. It emphasizes the need to enhance law enforcement presence and utilize surveillance technologies, addressing concerns about illegal crossings and security threats to residents in Texas.
Contention
The bill is likely to face debate concerning the extent of state versus federal authority over immigration-related matters. Proponents argue that the lack of federal action has necessitated state intervention to protect Texan residents, given the high number of illegal crossings in recent years. Opponents may raise issues about the effectiveness and implications of constructing physical barriers, questioning whether such measures would genuinely improve security or merely serve as political gestures. The funding aspect also introduces potential contention over reliance on federal reimbursements.
A resolution to express the sense of the Senate regarding the constitutional right of State Governors to repel the dangerous ongoing invasion across the United States southern border.
Finish the Wall Act This bill requires the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to resume activities related to the construction of a barrier system along the U.S.-Mexico border and addresses other border-related issues. DHS must resume all such construction activities that were planned or underway prior to January 20, 2021. DHS must also expend all funds appropriated or explicitly obligated since October 1, 2016, for construction of this barrier system. DHS may not cancel contracts for activities related to such construction entered into on or before January 20, 2021. Furthermore, within 14 days of this bill's enactment, DHS must certify to Congress that U.S. Customs and Border Protection facilities that process adults taken into custody at the border are fully compliant with certain laws related to the collection of DNA. (Among other things, these laws allow for the collection of DNA samples from non-U.S. persons detained under U.S. authority.)
To authorize certain States to take certain actions on certain Federal land to secure an international border of the United States, and for other purposes.
A resolution to express the sense of the Senate regarding the constitutional right of State Governors to repel the dangerous ongoing invasion across the United States southern border.