The 2025 Texas Legislature was a mixed bag when it comes to immigration and border bills. Lawmakers passed some items on the GOP's priority list, like Senate Bill 8, which requires Texas sheriffs to sign cooperation agreements with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The legislature also passed Senate Bill 36, which creates a Homeland Security Division within the Texas Department of Public Safety.
But plenty was left on the cutting room floor. Senate Bill 324, which would have mandated E-Verify for all employers in the state, failed to make the finish line. Also failing was SB 354, which would have created a state Border Patrol unit.
The biggest failures on border legislation were SB 16, to require proof of citizenship for voter registration, and "Jocelyn's Law," named for 12-year-old Jocelyn Nungaray, the Houston girl murdered by two illegal aliens last year. "Jocelyn's Law" would deny bail to illegal aliens charged with violent crimes or repeat violent offenders.
All of the failed bills passed the Senate but died at some level in the House.
Bob Price, who covers immigration for Breitbart Texas, says SB 8 is easily the biggest victory for border advocates, noting it will reduce dangerous ICE raids. "Part of the reason ICE has to go out to the streets to round up criminal illegal aliens is some sheriffs don't allow (ICE) to come into their jails and pick up criminals when they're in custody," he tells KTRH. "That's a much safer way for that to take place, and only the criminal alien gets picked up...there aren't extra people who also get swept up."
On the other hand, Price is stunned at the failure of Jocelyn's Law, believing it should be a no-brainer. "One of the conditions you sign on a bond agreement is that you're not going to violate any laws of the state of Texas, any other state, or the federal government," he says. "Well, you are by default violating the law when you enter this country illegally, so there is no reason why we shouldn't deny bond to illegal aliens...but apparently they decided we couldn't."
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