79S31253 CLE-D

By:  Crabb                                                        H.R. No. 445



R E S O L U T I O N
	WHEREAS, Immigration laws exist to provide a process for 
legal entry into this country and to protect our national security; 
clearly, these laws are ineffective in achieving those purposes 
without proper enforcement; and
	WHEREAS, A country that does not know the identity of those 
entering or leaving the country is inviting criminals and 
terrorists to live anonymously within its borders; and
	WHEREAS, The message from Americans is loud and clear:  our 
first priority must be securing our borders and enforcing current 
immigration laws; only then should we determine what changes, if 
any, are needed to our immigration policy; and
	WHEREAS, Failure to adequately enforce immigration laws 
exacts a high price on local taxpayers; local jails, for example, 
become filled with illegal immigrants who have committed crimes, 
costing taxpayers billions of dollars per year; and
	WHEREAS, Similarly, local property taxes increase when 
schools must provide the children of illegal immigrants with costly 
bilingual and special education; this, too, could be prevented by 
enforcement of current immigration laws; and
	WHEREAS, Health care is another area affected by lax 
enforcement of immigration laws; indigent illegal immigrants who 
use local hospital emergency rooms for treatment increase the cost 
of health care for all Americans; and
	WHEREAS, Making the enforcement of current immigration laws a 
priority would enhance national security, fulfill the will of the 
American people, and save local taxpayers billions of dollars; now, 
therefore, be it
	RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 79th Texas 
Legislature, 3rd Called Session, hereby express its support for the 
enforcement of current immigration laws.