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Good morning,

In just 47 days, Donald Trump will be sworn in as the 47th President of the United States. Yesterday, we asked readers for their opinions about his cabinet selections.

Today, we announce the first of the 2024 Conservative Leader Award recipients. Over the next two weeks, we will share their stories with you!

This is the Texas Minute for Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024.

– Michael Quinn Sullivan 

Texas Mulls Sending Illegal Aliens Directly to ICE Facilities

• Texas officials are reportedly considering a strategy to speed up the deportation of illegal aliens by busing them directly to Immigration and Customs Enforcement holding centers. Valerie Muñoz reports the proposal—which was first leaked to the New York Post—has the tentative approval of President Trump's border czar Tom Homan.
     
• Buses chartered by Texas would operate out of border cities and transport illegal aliens to federal deportation centers.
       
• Gov. Greg Abbott has not endorsed the proposal, nor did he mention it at his latest trip to the border. His office did not respond to requests for comment.
      
• Since 2022, Abbott has bussed nearly 120,000 illegal aliens to out-of-state, self-proclaimed "sanctuary cities," such as Washington, D.C., New York City, Chicago, Philadelphia, Denver, and Los Angeles.

Legislation Would Mandate E-Verify in Texas

• All employers in Texas would be required to participate in an electronic verification system to confirm U.S. employment eligibility. Will Biagini has the details.
       
• The measure by State Sen. Lois Kolkhorst (R–Brenham) would also require state contractors and political subdivisions to participate in E-Verify, a system utilized by the federal government to determine the employment eligibility of workers.
        
• Private employers would also be prohibited from designating certain workers as “independent contractors” to circumvent the requirement.

Lone Star State Leads US in Net Domestic Migration

• Luca Cacciatore reports on new information from the United States Census Bureau showing Texas is leading all 50 states in overall domestic migration.
     
• According to the bureau's data, California, New York, and Florida were the top states from which individuals moved to Texas. Other states sending a significant number of people included Louisiana, Illinois, Washington, and Oregon.
        
• While around 478,000 people left Texas for other states in 2023, around 612,000 people moved in for a net gain of 134,000. Texans who decided to leave were primarily headed for Colorado, Georgia, and North Carolina.
            

• Texas has seen steady population growth since 2000 across the Texas Triangle region, encompassing the cities of Austin, Dallas, College Station, Houston, and San Antonio.

Texas A&M Advances LGBT Ideology Through Film Class

• In contradiction to Texas A&M's conservative reputation, the coursework is rife with leftwing ideology pushing radical gender theory. In the latest installment of an ongoing investigative series, Robert Montoya reports on a course exploring gay themes in horror movies.
   
• According to the Fall 2024 syllabus, the course explores how the horror genre “resonates with gendered perspectives and sexual subjectivity.”
       
• The course leans heavily on a book by Harry M. Benshoff, who claims that "the conservative right wing and Fundamentalist Christian sectors of American society have sought to demonize homosexuals."
      
• TAMU did not respond to a request for comment about how the coursework aligns with the institution's values.

Conservative Leader Award 2024
Dr. Brooks McKenzie

Quote-Unquote

"Discipline is the soul of an army. It makes small numbers formidable; procures success to the weak, and esteem to all."

– George Washington

Y'All Answered

With his cabinet appointments now mostly made, we asked readers if they generally disapprove or approve of Donald Trump’s choices.

Here's a sampling of the responses we received yesterday from readers after they clicked an answer.

• “All of President Trump’s nominees are well qualified and know what sex they are. I was disappointed when Gaetz dropped out. I think he would’ve been a great attorney general.” – Gary Hunt
      

• “President Trump likes to ‘think outside the box,’ and most of his cabinet appointees are people who do just that—they think outside the box, or the swamp, and can help Trump come up with some real improvements in the way our government functions.” – Julie Chisholm
      

• “I realize some of his picks are good choices, but I need to see action before I approve any of them. Talk is cheap.” – Michael Moon
      

• “I can’t wait for January so Trump can start correcting crazy Joe’s disasters!” – Priscilla Love
      

• “It appears Trump is making choices that will make huge cuts or eliminate the extraneous government agencies. How can anyone disapprove of that?!” – Roger Taylor
       

• “Trump’s cabinet is going to clean the mess up the Democrats have made of our government. Quickly. Liberal heads are spinning!” – Dawn Gerstenberger
      

• “I've never been as optimistic about the future of the US as now. With these people, Trump can accomplish literally anything.” – Thomas Camardo
       

• “Impressed with the bold Cabinet picks—ready to see how they shake up the D.C. establishment and deliver for the American people!” – Sharla Miles
        

• “I am very pleased with Trump's appointments. The US government needs a drastic downsizing and change in how it operates. I am hopeful this will now happen.” – Ashton Oravetz III
       

• “Two of President Trump’s appointments I do not approve of are his Surgeon General and his DEA appointment.” – Donald R. Sarchet
         

• “With almost every cabinet appointment, the words that continue to come to mind are ‘It’s going to be GLORIOUS!’” – Tina Bartley
        

• “There are a couple I would question, but most are absolutely excellent.” – Kirk Christian

Directory of Your Current U.S. & Texas Lawmakers

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