Federal Judge Appears Skeptical of New Border Law

CAPITAL Highlights 

A federal judge is expected to rule quickly on the constitutionality of a Texas law about to go into effect that institutes new state penalties for illegal border crossings. During a hearing last week, U.S. District Judge David Ezra said he had concerns that other states would follow Texas’ lead in creating their own immigration laws – a power given exclusively to the federal government under the U.S. Constitution.

The Austin American-Statesman reported the U.S. Justice Department sued the state over the law set to go into effect next month. It would allow any law enforcement official in the state to arrest someone here illegally, with mandatory sentences of between six months and 20 years.

An attorney with the Texas attorney general’s office argued the state’s immigration law should be seen as necessary because of increased illegal immigration. Ezra questioned the ramifications of Texas setting a precedent for other states to reject federal authority and create their own immigration laws.

“I will try to get my decision out as quickly as I possibly can,” he said, noting that however he rules, it will be appealed.

Paxton, Cornyn Trade Barbs Over Aid Bill U.S. Sen. John Cornyn and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton escalated their feud last week, after Cornyn backed a $95 billion aid package to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, The Dallas Morning News reported. Paxton on social media blasted Cornyn, with the senator responding that the embattled attorney general should mind his own business – specifically his pending securities fraud trial.

“Unbelievable that @JohnCornyn would stay up all night to defend other countries borders, but not America,” Paxton posted on X, formerly Twitter.

Cornyn quickly responded. “Ken, your criminal defense lawyers are calling to suggest you spend less time pushing Russian propaganda and more time defending longstanding felony charges against you in Houston, as well as ongoing federal grand jury proceedings in San Antonio that will probably result in further criminal charges,” he wrote on X.

Painfully Slow Rollout of Broadband Feared 

Texas is due to receive $3.3 billion in federal funds for expanding broadband internet, but internet providers in rural areas are worried the money won’t be used efficiently to improve high-speed connections for the 7 million residents now lacking that resource.

The Texas Tribune reported a relatively new state office is trying to build a staff to oversee the work, noting earlier federal funding programs have seen limited success because many companies underestimated the costs to install broadband in sparsely populated areas.

“We want to make sure that there’s a responsible allocation of these dollars,” said Rusty Moore, COO of Big Bend Telephone Company in Alpine. “We’ve been very vocal about where the challenges are.”

The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act signed by President Joe Biden in 2021 provides $42.5 billion nationwide for broadband access and aims to connect 2.5 million households in Texas. Texas received the largest portion of the funds and created the Broadband Development Office to manage disbursement of its share.