Friday, October 4

Controversial law in Texas against undocumented immigrants; They warn that it would create “death squads”

The
The “special unit” against immigrants in Texas would operate by 2030.

Photo: John Moore/Getty Images

The opinion

By: The opinion Posted Mar 27, 2023, 11:22 am EDT

Republicans in the Texas state Congress are pushing a law so that any citizen can be part of a special unit, which allows stop undocumented immigrantsa plan that is already described as the “death squad.”

He Republican Dade Phelanthe speaker of the Texas House of Representatives, has said that he will seek to pass the law and see it through to the end, in order to “protect the border” of the state.

Supplementary legislation in the Texas Senate It will mark that living as an undocumented person in the entity is a state crimewhich will lead people to face a year in prison and, if they are repeat offenders, two years, indicates a report from The Intercept.

Undocumented immigrants who also have a criminal record could even face life in prison.

The plan seeks to create a new group, by which Republicans refer to legislation such as the “Border Protection Unit Act”. Any citizen could also participate in this police group.

It is proposed that the special squadron will operate at least until 2030, at which time an extension will be considered.

Texas Democrats Call Proposal “Death Squads”.

The Republican Phelan follows the same position as the governor of Texas, Greg Abbott, against immigrants, for which he has promoted several initiatives, including the Lone Star operation or Lone Star.

“We’re going to introduce a bill… I hope, make national headlines and change the conversation about border security, and we hope to take the battle all the way to the Supreme Court and allow Texas to protect its own border,” Phelan said.

Victoria Neave Criado, Democratic chair of the Mexican American Legislative Caucus (MALC), warned of the danger of the legislation.

“This dangerous, radical and unconstitutional proposal that empowers border guards to hunt down migrants and racially profile Latinos will result in the deaths of innocent people,” said Neave Criado.

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