KEEP THEM LOCKED UP, THEN KICK THEM OUT OF THE COUNTRY

Gov. Greg Abbott vows to crackdown on terminating illegal immigrants' probation

"It's needed because of a ruling by a leftist judge in Harris Co. Keep them in jail."

 

By Faith Bugenhagen

 

Chron

Dec 10, 2024

 

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signaled support for one of the first pieces of legislation not within his top list priority, which he intends to sign if it comes across his desk during the upcoming legislative session. 

 

Gov. Greg Abbott signaled to Texas lawmakers that he has his mind set on banning early terminations of probation for convicted criminals who are in the country illegally.
 
Abbott took to X on Monday evening to endorse legislation by state senator Joan Huffman (R-Houston), saying he would sign it into law. This is one of the first measures outside of his vocalized priorities, such as school choice, that he has committed to getting across his desk.

 

“I will sign this law. It's needed because of a ruling by a leftist judge in Harris Co. Keep them in jail,” Abbott posted on X.

 

Huffman's bill, Senate Bill 552, would prohibit convicted criminals who lack legal status from having their probation ended early through community service. This would mean they would be ineligible for "judge-ordered or jury-recommended community supervision," including "deferred adjudication community supervision."
 
"This session, we have an opportunity to pass meaningful legislation that will help our law enforcement and judicial system make Texas safer," Huffman wrote in a press release. "This bill is not just about enforcing immigration laws; it's about protecting our communities. By ensuring that those who have broken both our immigration and criminal laws face full accountability, we are taking a firm stand for the safety and security of all Texans."
 
Abbott said such a law was "needed" because of a "ruling by a leftist judge" in Harris County. The governor was referring to a case in which a defendant, charged with acts involving indecency with a child with sexual conduct and indecency with a child with exposure, was illegally in the country and deported multiple times. 

Harris County District Court Judge Natalia Cornelio, who oversaw the case, awarded the defendant with early termination of probation. 

Under current law, defined by the Texas Penal Code, those convicted are not allowed to serve community time if sentenced to serve more than 10 years in prison, but state statute does not place a requirement or references to the citizenship status of convicted criminals who may be eligible to have their probation terminated early. 

Cracking down on those who are in the country illegally is a continued hot-button issue for Abbott and other GOP lawmakers during the upcoming session.

The ramifications of such Republican-pushed policies will reach across and beyond the Lone Star state. President-elect Donald Trump, confirmed his plan to end birthright citizenship once in the Oval Office. 

"We're going to end that because it's ridiculous," Trump said in a Sunday interview on NBC's Meet the Press. 

Alongside Huffman's proposal, others filed by fellow GOP Texas lawmakers could end in-state tuition for college and university students who lack legal status and require an individual's legal status to be printed on their driver's license, among other measures.