Good morning,
This is the Texas Minute for Thursday, June 20, 2024.
– Michael Quinn Sullivan
Cruz Questions 'Mass Amnesty' by Biden Administration
- U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz joined in a letter questioning U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and Attorney General Merrick Garland about the Biden administration’s dismissal of more than 350,000 illegal alien removal cases. Debra McClure has the story.
- Cruz and 20 other senators say the Biden administration has “consistently downplayed” the border crisis, and its “repeated failures” in addressing the border have created a “backlog of 3.5 million asylum cases” and increased risks of illegal alien crime.
- The senators' letter describes the Biden administration’s dismissal of 350,000 asylum cases since 2022 as “mass amnesty.” With their cases dropped the illegal aliens have the ability to remain in the country without being deported.
RELATED NEWS
- A new poll finds that the number of Hispanics who strongly support a mass deportation effort of illegal aliens jumped from 25 percent in June 2023 to 38 percent as of most recently.
- Will Biagini reports that when combining for those who both strongly agree and somewhat agree with the proposition, 56 percent of Hispanic respondents support mass deportation.
State Speech Police Vote to Target Citizens
Originally intended to police people in power who profit from their positions, the Texas Ethics Commission has now set its sights on the citizenry. Daniel Greer explains the impact of a new rule that experts warn will chill free speech in Texas.
- Shortly after the 2024 primary election, the TEC proposed a rule amending disclosure requirements for grassroots activists posting on social media, including simply reposting
content. The new rule would remove an existing exception for those activists who spend less than $100 on social media activity during a reporting cycle.
- During proceedings proposing and approving the new rules targeting the grassroots, no instances where this activity was used to advocate for or against a candidate’s election or a specific proposition were cited.
The commissioners’ move comes when judicial and administrative bodies are notably weaponized against conservatives. The most high-profile case is against the presumptive Republican nominee for President: Donald Trump.
David Keating, president of the Institute for Free Speech, warned that “something as trivial and common as a candidate offering supporters a free bumper sticker or campaign pin for reposting a message of support would appear to require a disclaimer. This would create a trap for unwary grassroots efforts or candidates.”
How a Statewide Network Builds 'Grooming Grounds' in Schools
- A statewide network has committed itself to sexualizing Texas students. In an investigation, Robert Montoya and Eric Pinteralli report that children ranging from elementary level to high school are being targeted by the Texas GSA Network.
- It is seeking to organize and expand Gay-Straight Alliance clubs—also known as Genders and Sexualities Alliance clubs—in Texas schools.
- Parent education advocate Aileen Blachowski describes the clubs as “grooming grounds.” GSA materials stress that secrecy is paramount in these clubs.
- “This is a very dangerous, ideological path to put children on.” – Christie Slape, Moms for Liberty
RELATED NEWS
- Even as school districts complain about a lack of funding, the Round Rock Independent School District used taxpayer money to buy LGBT-themed memorabilia for the first-ever Round Rock "Pride" event. Emily Medeiros has the details.
Texas Children’s Hospital Now Under Investigation For Alleged Fraud
- Now that Texas Children’s Hospital’s sterilization practices on minors have been exposed, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has opened an investigation into the medical center.
- The first whistleblower, Dr. Eithan Haim, disclosed to the media that TCH was continuing to administer cross-sex hormones and puberty blockers to minors. He's now been indicted by the Biden administration for his efforts to expose the hospital's actions.
- A second whistleblower came forward this week alleging that TCH medical professionals had committed Medicaid fraud within the sex-change program.
- State Rep. Brian Harrison (R-Midlothian) has called for House Speaker Dade Phelan to hold an emergency interim hearing in response “to recent allegations of lawfare by Biden’s Department of Justice against whistleblowers exposing illegal and abusive sex-change procedures on Texas children and possible Medicaid fraud by Texas Children’s Hospital.”
Quote-Unquote
"One man with courage makes a majority."
– Andrew Jackson
Today in History
On June 20, 1782, the United States Congress adopted the Great Seal of the United States.
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