A new act filed in the Texas Senate would create the Texas Division of Homeland Security to enforce border security laws.
State Sen. Bob Hall (R–Edgewood) filed the measure last week.
The act, Senate Bill 135, would mandate that the Texas DHS be established to enforce border security legislation and intercept human and drug smuggling operations.
The new agency would coordinate efforts between local, state, and federal border security agencies, while leading intelligence gathering and investigations into criminal actions at the border.
“Texas faces unprecedented challenges at our southern border,” Hall told Texas Scorecard. “Illegal entry, human trafficking, and drug smuggling are not isolated issues confined to border towns; they reverberate across the entire state, impacting public safety, straining local law enforcement, and contributing to the devastating spread of dangerous substances like fentanyl.”
The senator also said that while U.S. Customs and Border Protection plays a critical role in securing the border, the federal response is often overwhelmed, resulting in Texans having to shoulder the burdens.
“To address these pressing issues, I have introduced Senate Bill 135,” he continued. “This legislation takes a proactive approach to enhance Texas’ ability to protect its communities and combat criminal networks that exploit our border vulnerabilities.”
Hall said that Texas cannot afford to wait on the federal government’s response, and that Texas must act decisively to safeguard communities and protect the state.
“Senate Bill 135 is a Texas solution to a Texas challenge, and I look forward to working with my colleagues to see this critical legislation passed. Together, we can make a meaningful difference for all Texans,” Hall concluded.
Kinney County Attorney Brent Smith argued that a dedicated border security agency in Texas is needed now more than ever.
“Voters have made the task of uprooting the criminal cartel organizations within our state a high priority,” Smith told Texas Scorecard. “A Trump administration in 2025 does not mean the border is secure, it means the work has just begun.”
The 89th Legislative Session will begin on January 14, 2025.
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