Phelan has ordered them to “monitor,” “examine,” “consider,” and “review” the impact that illegal immigration is having on the state as well as the state’s efforts to clamp down on illegal crossings.
Among other duties, Phelan has tasked the committees with taking a closer look at the fiscal impact of illegal immigration, studying the logistics of incarcerating additional prisoners in Texas jails and detention facilities, and carefully watching the homeland security aspect.
Committees will also be responsible for examining and monitoring the impact on the criminal justice system. For instance, the House Judiciary and Civil Jurisprudence Committee will “evaluate the preparedness of the court system” to handle an onslaught of cases arising from enforcement actions by state authorities.
Phelan tasked the House Defense and Veterans’ Affairs Committee with monitoring the Texas State Guard and the Texas National Guard.
On a financial note, the House Appropriations Committee will be responsible for researching whether federal COVID-19 relief dollars can be used to pay for the state’s response to the border crisis.
The 87th Texas legislature is currently not in session, but will convene in Austin for a special session on July 8. Gov. Greg Abbott has called the session, but the agenda for the session is still to be announced.
Abbott launched a statewide anti-illegal immigration effort in March called Operation Lone Star. Earlier this month, he started a state border wall project and created a crowdfunding campaign to help pay for it.
The following committees were given interim charges: Appropriations, Corrections, County Affairs, Defense & Veterans’ Affairs, Homeland Security & Public Safety, Human Services, International Relations & Economic Development, Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence, Juvenile Justice & Family Issues, Public Education, Public Health, and Transportation.
A copy of Phelan’s interim charges can be found below.
###
Disclosure: Unlike almost every other media outlet, The Texan is not beholden to any special interests, does not apply for any type of state or federal funding, and relies exclusively on its readers for financial support. If you’d like to become one of the people we’re financially accountable to, click here to subscribe.
- Border Security
- border wall
- Dade Phelan
- Donald Trump
- Greg Abbott
- Illegal Immigration
- Texas House
- Texas House Appropriations Committee
- Texas House Corrections Committee
- Texas House County Affairs Committee
- Texas House Defense and Veterans’ Affairs Committee
- Texas House Homeland Security & Public Safety Committee
- Texas House Human Services Committee
- Texas House International Relations and Economic Development Committee
- Texas House Judiciary and Civil Jurisprudence Committee
- Texas House Juvenile Justice and Family Issues Committee
- Texas House Public Education Committee
- Texas House Public Health Committee
- Texas House Transportation Committee
- Texas National Guard
- Texas State Guard
Hayden Sparks
Hayden Sparks is a senior reporter for The Texan and a lifelong resident of the Lone Star State. He has coached competitive speech and debate and has been involved in politics since a young age. One of Hayden's favorite quotes is by Sam Houston: "Texas has yet to learn submission to any oppression, come from what source it may."
