Issue Position: Stopping Illegal Immigration

Issue Position

Illegal immigration is a serious issue in the United States, and I believe no state has borne the burden quite like Texas. As a survivor of the 9/11 attack on the Pentagon, I wear the scars of not only an act of war, but of not knowing who is in this country illegally. It's important to remember that if regular inhabitants from other nations can so brazenly walk across our border, what stops terrorists from doing the very same thing? If Washington won't do its constitutionally-mandated job to provide for the common defense through a secure border, then Texas must step up and work to curb the inflow of illegal aliens. Along with the smuggling of illegal drugs, the influx of dangerous criminals and countless instances of human trafficking, our border faces a much more common threat. Every day, men and women walk across our border illegally and immediately demand taxpayer-funded, federally-mandated handouts like healthcare, education and other social services. During my first legislative session, I authored SB 1631 in an effort to require college students to provide proof of residency prior to receiving in-state tuition. Despite the fact that current policy exempted non-resident students from millions of dollars in owed-tuition alone, SB 1631 died in committee. It's time to start showing compassion for the taxpayer who must foot the bill for a government that can't perform the basic function of securing our border.

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