SAN ANTONIO — Senate Bill 4, a new state law, is in effect which increases the penalty for human smuggling or operating a stash house.
Governor Greg Abbott says the law is necessary for the state to defend itself from drug cartels. However, critics believe it won’t work.
Senate Bill 4 was one of three high profile immigration related bills passed last year. It bumps the minimum sentence for convicted offenders from two to 10 years.
Governor Abbott signed the bill in December in Brownsville. During the signing ceremony, he blamed the Biden administration for its immigration policies.
Abbott said SB 4 was the state’s way of defending itself from crime along Texas-Mexico border. According to the Texas Tribune, immigrant rights advocates spoke out against the new law on Tuesday.
They said increasing the sentences for human smuggling will only increase the incarcerated population and not deter prople from committing the crime.
Other immigration bills passed last year include Senate Bill 3 and a different Senate Bill 4.
SB 3 earmarks more than a billion dollars in state money to continue the construction of border barrier.
While SB 4 makes it a state crime to cross the border illegally form Mexico.
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