Texas GOP lawmakers signal tough crackdown on illegal immigration

Texas Republican lawmakers, buoyed by the defeat of 22 state Democratic lawmakers last week, call the election a mandate for the toughest possible crackdown on illegal immigration and are already filing bills for legislative action in January.

"The overwhelming majority is saying that they want something done," state Rep. Debbie Riddle, who filed some of the early bills, tells the Texas Tribune. "They want their families to be safe."

Bills filed this week would:

• Require picture IDs at polling places.
• Stop state funding of any local governments that provide "sanctuary" to illegal immigrants.
• Ban any state agency printing signs or documents in any language other than English.
• Require proof of citizenship to get a driver's license .

The Tribune says that with the GOP controlling all statewide offices, the top courts and nearly two-thirds of the seats in the Texas House and Senate, "many of the tough measures that died in previous sessions are expected to have a much smoother route to passage."

The Austin American-Statesman reports that when news broke Monday of Riddle's early filings of bills, Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer, leader of the Mexican American Legislative Caucus, posted a simple response on Twitter: "Game on."

(Posted by Doug Stanglin)