REP. LEMAN FILES LEGISLATION INCREASING CRIMINAL PENALTIES AT BORDER

  

State Representative Ben Leman has filed legislation seeking to address criminal activity along the Texas-Mexico border.

On Tuesday, during the second called special session of the legislature, Leman filed House Bill 154.  The bill increases criminal penalties for offenses committed while intentionally avoiding a federal or state law enforcement checkpoint.  Certain offenses can be enhanced to a felony.

Border security was among the priorities of Governor Greg Abbott heading into the second special session, as Abbott called for legislation enhancing criminal laws or providing funding from unappropriated available revenues to support law enforcement agencies, counties and other strategies as part of the state’s border security plan.

In a release, Leman criticized the Biden administration for not taking stronger action at the border, saying his bill will give law enforcement and prosecutors “more tools to protect Texans from illegal activity stemming from the complete failure of our federal government to secure our border.”