by Chris Russo – President, Texans for Strong Borders
Yesterday, I testified at the Texas Senate Committee On Border Security, which met yesterday in Austin to discuss three main topics: Securing the Texas-Mexico Border, Support for Border Security Personnel, and Monitoring of SB 602, SB 1133, and SB 1484. The full agenda can be found here.
Here are my prepared remarks:
Mr. Chairman and members of the committee, my name is Chris Russo, and I am representing Texans for Strong Borders, testifying as neutral.
Over the past three and a half years, the State of Texas has seen an unprecedented cartel-orchestrated invasion of our southern border, with millions of Border Encounters and thousands of drug seizures.
Even more troubling has been the intentional dismantling of our border enforcement through the actions of the Biden-Harris Administration, who have propped up countless humanitarian parole schemes with no basis in law. These parole programs, such as the CHNV program, have brought in millions of additional inadmissible aliens through our ports of entry, both at the border and internally through commercial flights.
The State of Texas has taken unprecedented steps and allocated billions of dollars to step into the gap left by federal border enforcement, but despite these efforts, the influx of illegal aliens into the state continues.
The state’s response must be bolstered by critical legislation during the upcoming legislative session regardless of the results of the Presidential election in November. These include:
- The creation of a Texas Department of Homeland Security to repel illegal crossings, break apart human smuggling and trafficking networks, and remove apprehended illegal aliens back to Mexico under an Article I, Section 10 invasion declaration from the Governor.
- Extending mandatory E-Verify requirements to all employers in the state of Texas to remove the employment magnet drawing illegal aliens into Texas
- Ending all public subsidies and services, including in-state college tuition, for illegal aliens.
- Continuing border barrier construction
- Addressing birthright citizenship
- And more
For too long, Texas has been reactive rather than proactive in addressing border security and the pull factors driving illegal immigration into our state. In 2025 we have an opportunity to lead the nation and future-proof our state’s response to further crises without over-reliance on the federal government, who have failed in their constitutional commitment to secure our state’s border with Mexico.
Thank you for your time.
Based on the discussion between the committee and DPS Director Steve McCraw, I also acknowledged Chairman Brian Birdwell’s (R-Granbury) comments about the importance of remaining vigilant with our efforts at the border.
The full video of my testimony can be found below:
WATCH:
— Texans for Strong Borders (@StrongBordersTX) September 20, 2024
Strong Borders President Chris Russo testified at the Texas Senate Border Security Committee hearing on what Texas needs to do during the next legislative session to secure the border. #txlege pic.twitter.com/RH1PkwvlCT