State Rep. Bryan Slaton (R–Royse City) has filed legislation to finish President Trump’s border wall.
According to Slaton’s office, House Bill 209 would “empower the Texas Department of Public Safety to use the Border Security Enhancement Fund to construct a wall along the border while meeting minimum federal specifications.”
It would also name the barrier the “President Donald J. Trump Wall.”
“Texas is under an invasion, and we need this border wall now more than ever,” said Slaton. “The human trafficking, crime, and illegal drugs that the cartels are bringing over our borders have reached unprecedented levels. Over 100,000 people died from illegal drugs last year alone. This is truly a crisis. While the whole nation is affected by the situation on our border, Texans are suffering the most. We must act.”
President Joe Biden’s open border crisis continues, with more than 2.3 million encounters on the southwest border last year and more than 230,000 encounters already in this first month of the new federal fiscal year.
Texans have been sounding the alarm for over a year now regarding the devastation to property, livelihoods, and human life. At the Republican Party of Texas convention this June, thousands of delegates chose securing the border and protecting Texans as one of eight GOP legislative priorities for the upcoming session.
Slaton says building a wall should not be a partisan issue because “the federal government is failing to protect our citizens, so Texas must protect herself.”
Although “our resources are finite,” as Alliance for a Safe Texas President Sheena Rodriguez acknowledges, “President Trump’s border wall is a crucial tool that has been proven effective.”
“Rep. Slaton’s bill ensures our Texas taxpayer dollars and generous donations are put to good use with a permanent construction of the wall, facilitated by Texas, which will greatly help to combat child trafficking and secure our state’s southern border,” said Rodriguez.
Ken Cuccinelli, former attorney general of Virginia and senior fellow at the Center for Renewing America, is also recommending Gov. Greg Abbott invoke his constitutional authority to declare an invasion and begin repelling and returning illegal border crossers to Mexico, with the support of the Texas Legislature.
Cuccinelli says Abbott’s actions will provoke a strong response from the Biden administration and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton should be ready to fend off their interference through the courts.
So far, 40 Texas counties have declared an invasion on the Texas-Mexico border and urged Abbott to take further action in repelling the ongoing invasion: Kinney, Goliad, Terrell, Parker, Wise, Edwards, Atascosa, Presidio, Tyler, Live Oak, Rockwall, Johnson, Wilson, Hardin, Chambers, Ellis, Orange, Liberty, Throckmorton, Madison, Jasper, Van Zandt, Wichita, Clay, Jack, Hunt, Montague, Hood, Wharton, Burnet, Collin, McMullen, Hamilton, Lavaca, Ector, Leon, Navarro, Waller, Fannin, and Shackelford.
This is the second time Slaton has filed a bill to finish the border wall. His previous effort in 2021 was never given a committee hearing in the Texas House.
The 88th Legislative Session begins January 10, 2023.
Concerned citizens can contact their legislators to register their concerns.
