Texas Senate Bill 4, heading to Governor Greg Abbott’s desk, will allow the arrest and deportation of certain illegal migrants in Texas.
The bill makes illegal entry a state misdemeanor, punishable by up to two years, and would apply only to recent arrivals.
Democrats accused supporters of being racist, while the floods of migrants crossing the southern border have led to a crisis in cities like New York and Chicago.
New York City has seen over 130,000 arrivals since last year, straining resources, while Chicago is working to accommodate an influx of over 18,500 migrants, many from Venezuela, at a cost of at least $250 million.
A report cited by House Republicans suggests between 16.8 million and 29 million illegal migrants are currently in the country, with around 3.8 million entering under the Biden administration.
