Several land owners and officials testified about property damages caused by foreign nationals trespassing on their land while attempting to evade law enforcement after they’ve illegally entered the U.S. from Mexico.
They testified before a state state Senate Committee on Border Security on Thursday and expressed support for a bill filed by Democratic state Sen. César Blanco.
Blanco, who represents eight far west Texas counties, filed SB 1133 to create a grant program to compensate certain property owners for damages caused by criminal activities on agricultural land. It would amend state Code of Criminal Procedure to create the program, which would be administered by the attorney general’s office.
“With increased trafficking and drug smuggling activity along the Texas border and in rural communities, ranchers and farmers have reported significant financial losses and property damage to their fences, crops, livestock, equipment, and other property,” Blanco said. “This bill would provide farmers and ranchers in border and rural counties much-needed relief from the damages caused by trafficking, smuggling, and bail-outs on their personal property.”
https://justthenews.com/nation/states/center-square/ranchers-testify-property-damage-crime-caused-illegal-foreign-nationals
