Good morning,

The third special session of 2023 ends today with a whimper for Greg Abbott’s agenda.

Readers have some very passionate ideas about what should happen when people enter the country illegally. Find their answers to yesterday's survey below.

This is the Texas Minute for Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2023.

– Michael Quinn Sullivan 

Last Chance to Vote...

• This is election day for voting on 14 constitutional propositions statewide. Many areas also have local questions ranging from tax hikes and debt issuance to places on city councils and school boards.
     
• Learn about the 14 propositions before you vote! The polls are open statewide from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Abbott Agenda Thwarted by Texas House

• As the third special legislative session comes to an end today, lawmakers have sent to Gov. Greg Abbott's desk only two of the items on his called agenda. Soli Rice has the details.

       
• One measure bans COVID-19 vaccine requirements in most settings. The other increases penalties for human smuggling and operating a stash house.
      
• The rest of the agenda stalled out, including creating a state-level offense for illegal entry from a foreign country and addressing housing areas—like Colony Ridge—that seem to serve as magnets for illegal aliens.
         
• Most notably, the Texas House has again thwarted Abbott's desire for a school choice program.

Communist China and the University of Texas

• In a new investigation, Kristen Stanciu and Quinn Sullivan reveal how deeply involved the University of Texas system has become with the Communist Party of China.
      
• Their investigation finds that UT not only cultivates these relationships internationally but also harbors CCP influence groups on American soil. This includes partnerships with Chinese institutions known to be security risks while allowing on-campus CCP entities that exist to disseminate propaganda.

Biden Administration Approves $950 Million For Border Wall Repairs and 'Upgrades'

• The Biden administration has approved $950 million for repairing and upgrading existing border walls in Texas, California, and Arizona. Emily Medeiros reports that the U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency granted four separate contracts for the work.
           
• In some cases, the money will be used to add cameras, roads, and detection technology to enhance the functionality of the physical barrier. In other cases, the funds will close gaps in the existing barrier, complete or install gates, or improve patrol roads. 

Midland Voters Asked to Take on $2.9 Billion in School Debt

• Midland Independent School District residents are questioning the size and scope of a $1.4 billion bond proposition that school officials placed on tomorrow's ballot—by far the district's largest single bond ever proposed.

     
• Erin Anderson explains that, with interest, the bond would actually cost local property taxpayers $2.9 billion—more than double the dollar amount shown on the ballot.
      
• Midland ISD officials want taxpayers to fund two new high schools to replace existing schools, a new elementary school, and improvements to multiple facilities. The bond also includes security upgrades. All the projects are packed into a single all-or-nothing ballot proposition.
      
• Residents are concerned that the big spending does not align with academic outcomes for students. State data shows Midland ISD’s K-3 students falling behind in reading and math in 2023 compared to last year. In 2022, only 42 percent of MISD students met or exceeded grade level across all subjects.

Mother Considers Legal Action After Son Allegedly Assaulted by Substitute Teacher

• A mother in Fort Bend Independent School District is considering legal action after a substitute teacher allegedly assaulted her son.
      

• The mother, Joan Guerra, filed a report with Fort Bend ISD claiming that a substitute teacher hit her son with a wooden ruler at Lake Olympia Middle School. 

      
• The school district said there is an ongoing investigation into the incident.

📺 Dade Breaks His Deal With Abbott

• On the latest edition of his show, Luke Macias examines the fallout for Dade Phelan breaking the deal with Greg Abbott on school choice.
       

• Listen to the Luke Macias Show on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcast, or watch it on YouTube.

Don't Forget: Get Tickets For The Conservative Leader Awards Dinner

• Save the date and get your tickets for the annual Conservative Leader Awards.
        

• Join us on Saturday, December 9, at the Marriott Dallas Las Colinas Hotel for an evening of celebration. Space is limited, so reserve your tickets today!

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Y'All Answered

The invasion at the southern border is continuing without respite. Yesterday, we asked readers if Texas law enforcement officers should be allowed to deport illegal aliens even without a conviction or court order.

Overwhelmingly, readers want law enforcement officers to deport illegal aliens (97.9 percent), while 2.1 percent do not.

Here is a sampling of the responses I received...

• “If you break the law, you go back.” – Mary Clark
      

• “Law enforcement should not only be allowed to deport, they should be required to.” – Mike Wicks
     
• “Your being in the country illegally is the proof required for immediate expulsion.  Law enforcement should  enforce all laws and return illegals to the country from where they entered.” – Pamela Millisor
   
• “We frequently hear cries that ‘no one is above the law’. However, when it comes to illegal immigration, many look the other way.” – Angelika Hoeher
   
• “While law enforcement should be able to detain, it is a federal responsibility to deport illegals.” – Mack McClelland
   
• “I am tired of Gov. Abbott talking about how tough he is on illegal immigration. Since the federal government is circumventing all of our barriers, we should just kick any illegals out.” – Laura Morton
       
• "No, innocent until proven guilty must be a hallmark of who we are as Texans." – Jim Baxa
       
• “All illegals should either be deported or charged with a crime and jailed.  They should have been prevented from entering America in the first place.  The Biden open border policy is intentional and is destroying our country.” – Gail Hanna
   
• “Once again, the question to ask, ad nauseam, is what part of ‘illegal’ do we not understand? This is criminal trespassing against US sovereignty and a seriously rebellious assault on the laws that are already on the books.” – Randy Miller
   
• “I answered 'yes' because 'duh' wasn't available.” – Cindy Armstrong
   
• “Of course, Texas ‘should’ be allowed to deport illegal immigrants, but I believe the Supreme Court has ruled that is a federal responsibility, so any effort for the state to do so will be overruled. It will be better for Texas to put its effort into jailing immigrants who break state laws, such as trespassing, vandalism, theft, drug possession, and slave trafficking.” – Jerry Harben
   
• “At the least, Texas could pass Mandatory E-Verify for Texas.  No one should be hiring illegal aliens.” – Sharon Sapp
   
• “And here all along, I naively thought that was the law and their job: catch the illegal aliens and deport them - not catch them, make them promise to show up in court at a later date and release them.  Silly me.” – Garry Ludwig 
   
• “What good does deporting illegals do when we have a revolving door at the border that lets them back in?  Since many of them claim they want to work, send them to work camps and put them to work building the ‘wall.’  If we’re going to provide them food and shelter, we should get something in return.” – Bill Parks
   
• “Illegal aliens are criminals. They broke into our country. Deport them all. Unfortunately, most Republicans don’t have the stomach to do what needs to be done.” – Catherine Buschold
   
• “Illegal immigration is killing this state and this country. It amazes me that we allow such a flagrant violation of our laws to continue.” – Charles Koenig
   
• “Texas law enforcement officers should be allowed to deport illegal aliens. Period.” – Dana Krasinski
   
• “My father was an immigration inspector on the Canadian border from the 1920s through the 1940s.  He would be rolling in his grave if he knew what is going on now.” – Tom McNamara
   
• “Being here without legal permission is reason enough for removal. It defies logic that we are even having this conversation. That Texas has left its border wide open for three years is as much an indictment on the Austin swamp as it is D.C., because Texas is supposedly run by Rs. For shame, Texas, for shame.” – Elissa Harrell
   
• “Any law-enforcement authority should be able to remove and deport illegals. They have violated the law and have no right to be in this country.” – Sam Bridges 

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