The Texas House has approved two immigration bills aimed at deterring illegal immigration at the Texas-Mexico border. One of the bills would appropriate over $1 billion for additional border barriers, while the other bill would increase penalties for human smugglers. The debate on House Bill 4, which empowers police officers to apprehend or send back migrants who cross the border illegally, was halted when a motion was made to block new amendments. This move sparked tense moments and confrontations between Democratic and Republican lawmakers.

The approved legislation would allow state law enforcement to arrest individuals who enter Texas illegally and jail them for up to six months, a power currently limited to federal law enforcement. The bills are part of Governor Greg Abbott's Operation Lone Star, which aims to deter illegal immigration at the Texas-Mexico border.

Critics argue that the bills are unconstitutional and go against federal law. The package of bills passed by the Texas House comes as U.S. Border Patrol agents have seen historically high numbers of encounters with migrants on the southern border, with over 2 million encounters recorded in fiscal year 2023. The bills will now move to the Senate for consideration.