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October 13, 2024
NEWS DIGEST
by Brandon Waltens
Good morning,
In a major reversal from her guidance just days ago, Secretary of State Jane Nelson now says non-citizen driver’s licenses may not be used as a form of voter identification.
The Texas Department of Public Safety issues driver’s licenses and personal identification cards to lawfully present noncitizens, which are clearly marked “Temporary Visitor” or “Limited-Term” and expire after one year or when the individual’s period of lawful presence ends.
An advisory from the Secretary of State issued Tuesday afternoon stated that while citizens should not use these types of IDs to vote, poll workers should nonetheless offer a regular ballot to people on the voter rolls who present a noncitizen ID. This contrasts with previous guidance from the Secretary of State’s office in 2018, which specifically stated that DPS-issued driver’s licenses and personal identification cards “should not be used if ‘Limited Term’ or ‘Temporary Visitor’ appears on the face of the card, as this indicates the person is not a U.S. Citizen.”
Instead, voters with such IDs were urged to show other forms of identification, including naturalization certificates or passports.
After backlash, Nelson has issued “updated guidance” reversing the decision:
When an individual attempts to vote by presenting a temporary or limited-term driver’s license (which federal regulations say must be issued only to non-citizens who are lawfully present in this country) election workers must require that the individual produce a naturalization card or naturalization certificate demonstrating U.S. citizenship to receive a regular ballot.
After issuing the initial advisory, Nelson had asked Attorney General Ken Paxton for further guidance though stated she updated the guidance prior to receiving a response.
“Secretary of State Nelson did the right thing,” said Paxton. “Her amended election advisory closes a potential loophole that could have allowed noncitizens to attempt to vote. Texas must do everything in its power to prevent noncitizens from voting, and this is a critical step toward securing our elections.”
Featured
Law enforcement has arrested Estefania Primera, an illegal alien from Venezuela, following reports that she was the ring leader for a gang’s sex trafficking operation in El Paso.
Primera was named by a sex trafficking victim as the leader of a Tren de Aragua sex trafficking ring. She was arrested in El Paso in late September on charges of trafficking of persons according to her booking record.
State
Texas Tech Business College Offers DEI Course
The course trains students on how to practically apply DEI in the business world.
Texas Senate Reviews $200M Movie Industry Handouts
Despite the Republican Party of Texas platform calling for the curtain to close on the program, labeling it as a form of “corporate welfare,” the Legislature increased its budget to $200 million during the last session.
Texas General Land Office Takes Ownership of Alamo Cenotaph
Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham signed the deed during her trip to the Alamo Visitor Center.
Local
Parents Say Spring ISD Preschool Teachers Drugged Kids With ‘Sleepy’ Stickers
Staff members were immediately placed on administrative leave pending an investigation by the Spring ISD Police Department.
Houston Officials Take Tax Increase Off the Table
The state has stepped in to cover $50 million in disaster recovery costs.
Huffman ISD Proposes 25 Percent Tax Hike Without Voter Approval
Elected officials plan to add up to 12 “disaster pennies” to the district’s property tax rate.
Federal
FEMA Reportedly Took Funds From Border Security to Advance Open Border Policies
The executive director of the Center for Renewing America argued that Democrats are making it seem like Border Patrol has enough funding while intending to redirect those funds to facilitate illegal immigration.
Texas Argues Against the Biden-Harris Administration’s Attempt to Formalize Amnesty Scheme
The court appeared skeptical of the federal government’s defense, prompting Paxton to declare a day’s victory hours after opening remarks concluded.
Texas Among 29 States With Known Terrorist Cases
A report identified more than 50 cases of Islamic terrorism across the U.S. between April 2021 and September 2024.
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