Texas Border

The law would have allowed local and state police to arrest a person who allegedly entered the country illegally.

The legislation includes funding for more law enforcement in a southeast Texas neighborhood lawmakers said — without evidence — is a haven for crime.

Gov. Greg Abbott signed Senate Bill 4 into law Tuesday. It will go into effect in February.

The chamber’s actions Tuesday handed Gov. Greg Abbott at least a temporary legislative victory. Lawmakers couldn’t pass similar items during previous sessions — despite the governor prioritizing the issues.

Senate Bill 4 creates a state crime for unauthorized entry into Texas from a foreign country. Opponents say it conflicts with federal immigration law.

The increase comes about two weeks before the anticipated end to a restrictive border policy that’s been in place since 2020.

Mike and Mark Sheppard, both charged in the shooting death of a migrant man in Hudspeth County, were released from jail on bond Monday night, the county sheriff’s office said.

This has been the deadliest year ever for migrants trying to cross the U.S.-Mexico border. Hundreds have drowned in the Rio Grande or perished from extreme heat in failed smuggling attempts.

Migrants from across the hemisphere are increasingly crossing the border in a remote corner of South Texas. The shift has big implications for border towns like Eagle Pass — and the entire country.

According to a new Texas Politics Project poll, Republicans overwhelmingly support Gov. Greg Abbott’s busing policy, while most Democrats are against it. Abbott, a Republican running for a third term, continues to lead Democrat Beto O’Rourke.