Good morning!

Illegal border crossers rioted in El Paso last week, just as the federal courts are hearing arguments about the states' right to defend themselves from invasion. In today's One Click Survey, I want to know what you think.

Here is the Texas Minute for Monday, March 25, 2024.

– Michael Quinn Sullivan 

New Federal Contract Allows Transport of Illegal Alien Children

• The U.S. government agreed to a contract in February that would allow unaccompanied alien children to be transported from shelters run by the Office of Refugee Resettlement to sponsors in America. But, according to research conducted by the Center for Immigration Studies, the contract fails to provide guidelines for security and safety. Amelia McKenzie has the details. 
       
• It was reported in 2023 that the Biden administration lost track of 85,000 illegal alien children.
      
• The CIS research finds the new contract fails to provide thorough instructions on how to correctly identify sponsors taking the children or how the ORR escorts could assess the safety of the situation in which the children are placed.

Texas' Roger Williams Introduces New Border Security Legislation

• Legislation filed by U.S. Rep. Roger Williams would require Border Patrol agents to detain all illegal crossers and determine if they are on the Federal Terror Watchlist. Emily Medeiros has the story.
      
• While it is common practice for Border Patrol agents to screen each illegal alien they come in contact with, the action is not currently required by law.
     

• In filing the measure, Williams said the recent influx of terror-watchlisted individuals attempting to cross the border means agents need to screen them now more than ever.

Texas Sues Biden Administration Over Ban on Liquified Natural Gas Exports

• The State of Texas has sued the Biden administration to prevent the Department of Energy from halting applications to export liquid natural gas. As Will Biagini explains, the Biden administration announced in January a decision to stop all exports of LNG.
       
• Attorney General Ken Paxton said that Biden’s LNG exports ban will simultaneously upend the oil and gas industry and disrupt Texas’ economy.
         
• Joining Texas in the lawsuit are Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Utah, West Virginia, and Wyoming.
       
• "From our wide-open southern border to this latest move to kneecap our economy, it’s clear that our state, our commerce, and our families are in the crosshairs of the current administration." – Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham

Gillespie County Republicans Find, Fix Hand Count Errors

• Following a successful first effort to hand-count ballots in the March primary election, Gillespie County Republicans reviewed their paperwork and found several errors in the unofficial results reported to the county elections administrator. Erin Anderson has the full report.
       
• Gillespie County GOP Chairman Bruce Campbell told Texas Scorecard addition and transcription errors accounted for the reporting mistakes, which did not affect the outcome of any races on the ballot.
     
• Of course, errors are also made in "machine counting" of the ballots as has been seen around the state. For example, during the 2020 primary elections, Dallas County officials missed counting 9,100 ballots that were stored on thumb drives from 44 tabulating machines used at vote centers across the county. That mistake wasn’t discovered until after the official canvass of votes.
     
• Mistakes made during Harris County’s 2022 primaries, including failing to count 10,000 mail ballots, forced the election administrator to resign.

Republican Added to Houston METRO Board

• The board of Houston METRO now includes the former Republican nominee for Harris County Judge. Charles Blain reports Alex Mealer received a vote of confidence from 12 of the 14 “multi-city” mayors overseeing the board.
      
• The agency has a budget of $1.6 billion and provides public transportation across Harris County. The nine-member board is made up of appointees from Harris County, the City of Houston, and the smaller cities within Harris County. The multi-city mayors propose nominees for their two positions and then vote among themselves on appointees.
      
• Metro’s service area covers more than 1,300 square miles and operates bus, light rail, bus rapid transit, and intermediate public transit services.

Today In History

On March 25, 1863, the first Medal of Honor was presented.

Quote-Unquote

"It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died. Rather we should thank God that such men lived."

– George S. Patton​

ONE CLICK SURVEY

The federal courts have blocked Texas from enforcing Senate Bill 4, which would make it a state crime to be in Texas illegally. Should Texas officials ignore the federal courts and begin enforcing the law anyway?

Once you’ve clicked an answer, reply to this email with any thoughts you’d like to share!