Denies bail to noncitizens matching the bill's definition of 'illegal alien' if probable cause exists for a felony charge, increasing state restrictions on such individuals pending trial and expanding state immigration enforcement tied to criminal charges.
An illegal alien who is accused of committing an offense punishable as a felony shall be denied bail pending trial if a judge or magistrate determines after a hearing that probable cause exists to believe that the person engaged in the conduct constituting the offense.
✓ Quote verified word for word in the bill text
Immigration enforcementstate federal cooperationAI label
Defines 'illegal alien' using federal immigration law criteria for entry and status violations, then imposes state denial of bail for felony charges, expanding state enforcement aligned with federal immigration classifications.
In this section, "illegal alien" means a person who: (1) entered the United States without inspection or at any time or place other than as designated by the United States attorney general; or (2) was admitted as a nonimmigrant and, before the date of the commission of the offense, had failed to maintain the nonimmigrant status under which the alien was admitted or to which the status was changed under applicable federal immigration law, or to comply with the conditions of the person's status.
Why the model tagged it this way: The bill proposes a Texas constitutional amendment that defines 'illegal alien' based on federal immigration violations and mandates denial of bail for those charged with felonies upon a probable cause finding, which expands state immigration enforcement by adding a specific state-level consequence tied to immigration status in criminal proceedings. No other listed topics are substantively addressed.
Related bills
HB111Relating to a prohibition on the installation or construction of border security infrastructure on state park property.↓Restricts immigration enforcement Filed
HB137Relating to employment practices of governmental entities, state and local contractors, and private employers in this state regarding the le↑Expands immigration enforcement↑Expands immigration enforcement Filed
SB49Relating to border protection and economic development services, programs, and other measures, including measures to recruit health care pro↑Expands immigration enforcement↑Expands immigration enforcement Filed
SB273Relating to a prohibition on the installation or construction of border security infrastructure on state park property.↓Restricts immigration enforcement↓Restricts immigration enforcement Filed