FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 9, 2023
CONTACT: Emily Witt (she/hers), [email protected]
AUSTIN, Texas – The Texas House State Affairs Committee today voted out HB4, a bill that would allow law enforcement to remove undocumented people from Texas and drop them at a port of entry.
The legislation has been widely criticized by the community, legislators, and young Texans for its potential to separate families and put people at risk of racial profiling.
Texas Freedom Network Interim Political Director Rocío Fierro-Pérez (she/her/ella) issued the following response:
“This law is a clear attack on the values of community and compassion that define us as Texans. HB 4 will not make Texans safer. It will, however, further put people in our border and immigrant communities at risk of violence, racial profiling, and the unimaginable trauma of family separation.”
“It is devastating that our leaders continue prioritizing cruelty over genuine solutions to welcoming immigrants — a foundational American value. Texas deserves better than this. We deserve policies that foster safety and well-being for all. Let’s remember, Governor Greg Abbott has consistently failed to take meaningful action on critical issues like gun control, climate resilience, and adequate funding for education. We, as Texans, must continue to boldly and loudly reject draconian and divisive policies.”
HB4 will now advance to the House Floor for a full hearing.
