BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	S.C.R. 29
	By: Creighton
	Border Security
	4/17/2023
	As Filed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

S.C.R 29 declares an invasion of the State of Texas by transnational cartel terrorists, urges the governor to accelerate the construction of a wall along the Southern Border, and urges Congress to deploy military forces to combat transnational cartels.

The proliferation of transnational cartels has emerged as a grave threat to the State of Texas and the United States as a whole. These groups have exploited weak and unsecure points along the border between Texas and Mexico to increase their power within the United States, particularly in relation to drug and human trafficking operations.

This resolution affirms Texas's constitutional authority to protect its citizens against invasion under Article 1, Section 10, of the United States Constitution. The Texas Governor has the power to organize armed forces to "repel invasions" and shall be the Commander-in-Chief of the military forces of the state. Additionally, the United States federal government is charged with "providing for the common defense" and protecting its states "against invasion" under the Preamble and Article IV, Section 4.

The resolution calls for the 88th Legislature of the State of Texas to declare an invasion by transnational cartel terrorists and for Governor Abbott to accelerate the construction of a wall along the southern border. It also urges the U.S. Congress to vote to deploy U.S. military forces to combat transnational cartels in fulfillment of their constitutional obligation to "provide for the common defense."��

Finally, the resolution demands that the federal government allocate more financial support for Texas's border security wall and reimburse Texas for past expenditures on security. It also calls on Texas's congressional delegation to deliver this resolution to the federal government to be officially entered in the Congressional Record. These actions will help combat the threats posed by transnational cartels and ensure the safety and security of Texas and the United States.

Transnational cartels are exploiting weak and unsecure points along the United States Southern Border to expand their criminal enterprises and terrorize Americans; 379 million deadly doses of fentanyl were seized by U.S. authorities in 2022, enough to kill every American man, woman, and child.

The State of Texas is charged with protecting its citizens and is empowered to defend itself against invasion under Article 1, Section 10, of the United States Constitution.� Article IV, Section 7, of the Texas Constitution� states that the Governor of Texas "shall be Commander-in-Chief of the military forces of the State" and has the power to organize armed forces to "repel invasions."

The United States federal government is charged, in the United States Constitution, to "provide for the common defense" and protect its states "against invasion" under the Preamble and Article IV, Section 4, respectively.

The State of Texas has spent $4 billion on border initiatives in the 2021��2022 biennium, investing in state-of-the-art detection equipment, a border wall, and calling up tens of thousands of members of National and State Guard units.� Operation Lone Star's multi-agency effort has led to over 352,000 illegal immigrant apprehensions and more than 23,000 criminal arrests.

Both human and drug trafficking by transnational cartels have created a security threat and humanitarian disaster by terrorizing residents of the United States and the State of Texas.

Four United States citizens were kidnapped by a cartel abroad in early March, two of them brutally murdered. Unfortunately, the tragic incident was not isolated, and violence permeates any area these transnational cartels inhabit.

The continual violation of Texas's sovereignty and territorial integrity has resulted in reports of residents of Texas being assaulted, threatened with violence, and robbed.

RESOLVED

That the 88th Legislature of the State of Texas hereby declare an invasion by transnational cartel terrorists under Article 1, Section 10 of the United States Constitution and Article IV, Section 7 of the Texas Constitution.

That the legislature ask Governor Abbott to accelerate the construction of a wall along the southern border, utilizing eminent domain where necessary, to prevent the entrance of transnational cartels into the state.

That the legislature demand that the U.S. Congress recognize its obligation under the U.S. Constitution to "provide for the common defense" by voting to deploy U.S. military forces to combat transnational cartels.

That the legislature demand that the federal government allocate more financial support to Texas' border security wall and reimburse Texas for past expenditures on security efforts to repel invaders at its southern border.

That the Texas Secretary of State forward official copies of this resolution to the President of the United States, to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives of the United States Congress, and to all members of the Texas delegation to Congress with the request that this resolution be officially entered in the Congressional Record as a memorial to the Congress of the United States of America.