Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill during the special session that amends state criminal code to establish illegal entry across the border as a class B misdemeanor offense and increases increases punishment for migrants who reenter the state illegally after having been forcibly removed at least once before.

Highlights:

• Amends state criminal code to establish illegal entry across the border as a class B misdemeanor offense (Sec. 1-3).

• Increases criminal punishment for migrants who reenter the state illegally after having been forcibly removed at least once and breaks penalties into the following catergories, including  (Sec. 1-3):

• If the individual’s removal was because of two or more misdemeanors involving drugs, crimes against a person, or both;

• If the individual was excludable on the basis of terrorist activities;

• If the individuals was previously removed by federal law regarding alien terrorist removal procedures; or

• If the person was moved out of prison before their sentence was finished.

• Authorizes law enforcement officers to arrest migrants in the country illegaly in previously prohibited locations, including (Sec. 1-3):

• Public and private schools;

• Churches, synagogues, and other religious spaces;

• Healthcare facilities; and

• SAFEready facilities.

• Requires migrants arrested for any of the aforementioned penalites to be deported back to the country they had left and if they refuse receive a 20 year jail sentence (Sec. 1-3).

• Specifies that the provisions of this bill shall take effect 91 days after the final adjournment date of this legislative session (Sec. 9).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill during the special session that amends state criminal code to establish illegal entry across the border as a class B misdemeanor offense and increases increases punishment for migrants who reenter the state illegally after having been forcibly removed at least once before.

Highlights:

• Amends state criminal code to establish illegal entry across the border as a class B misdemeanor offense (Sec. 1-3).

• Increases criminal punishment for migrants who reenter the state illegally after having been forcibly removed at least once and breaks penalties into the following catergories, including  (Sec. 1-3):

• If the individual’s removal was because of two or more misdemeanors involving drugs, crimes against a person, or both;

• If the individual was excludable on the basis of terrorist activities;

• If the individuals was previously removed by federal law regarding alien terrorist removal procedures; or

• If the person was moved out of prison before their sentence was finished.

• Authorizes law enforcement officers to arrest migrants in the country illegaly in previously prohibited locations, including (Sec. 1-3):

• Public and private schools;

• Churches, synagogues, and other religious spaces;

• Healthcare facilities; and

• SAFEready facilities.

• Requires migrants arrested for any of the aforementioned penalites to be deported back to the country they had left and if they refuse receive a 20 year jail sentence (Sec. 1-3).

• Specifies that the provisions of this bill shall take effect 91 days after the final adjournment date of this legislative session (Sec. 9).

Full Bill Text