Border

Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar on Monday filed criminal charges over the Florida governor's operation to fly dozens of migrants from San Antonio to Martha's Vineyard under false pretenses.

Along with property taxes, lawmakers have been tasked by Gov. Greg Abbott to revisit two key border and immigration proposals that didn’t make it to his desk during the regular session of the Texas Legislature that ended on Memorial Day.

Border security is a priority for the state’s GOP leadership as Abbott and company continue to blast the Biden administration’s policies.

The announcement comes the same day Gov. Greg Abbott wrote to the country’s governors, asking them to support his border security operation now that the pandemic-era health policy known as Title 42 has expired.

People who enter the U.S. illegally could be banned from returning for at least five years, and repeat offenders could face prosecution. And many migrants seeking asylum at the southern border will need to show they were turned down by a country they crossed into first before asking the U.S.

The restriction has allowed the U.S. to quickly send migrants — even those seeking asylum — out of the country since the beginning of the COVID pandemic.

George Alvarez, 34, faces eight counts of manslaughter and 10 counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Eight people died and 10 others were injured after he drove into a bus stop.

Against the backdrop of hundreds of Texas National Guard units boarding military airplanes at the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, Abbott announced the deployment of a new operations unit in anticipation of the border health policy known as Title 42 ending later this week. The pandemic-era public health order allows for the rapid expulsion of some migrants.

The declarations came as migrants are camped out just across the Rio Grande in anticipation of the end of Title 42. After three years of allowing for rapid expulsions, the policy will be lifted May 11.

The legislation would form a powerful new state law enforcement unit on the border. The hearing where HB 20 was discussed lasted until 2 a.m. Thursday.