The continued failure of the federal government to secure the southern border and ensure orderly, legal immigration has created a national crisis that bears significant consequences for state and local governments.  The states have a significant role to play in the illegal immigration debate, as evidenced by actions taken by governors in every border state.  But states could do much more to alleviate the pressure caused by illegal immigration.

Phase I of the TCCRI Illegal Immigration Task Force issued more than thirty recommendations to limit the social and fiscal costs of illegal immigration.  Most of Task Force’s recommendations were filed as bills in the 80th Legislature, but only two illegal immigration bills were finally passed: one to recover public subsidies from companies convicted of employing illegal aliens; and another to increase penalties for document forgery. 

Phase II of the Illegal Immigration Task Force will build on the previous recommendations, examine new ideas, and consider the best approach for enacting reforms.