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A National Threat Taking Root in Texas:

Stop Looming Immigration Proposals

Dear John,

Dangerous proposals lurk in Texas and threaten to reshape immigration and criminal justice policy across the country. Your urgent action is needed to stop them from moving forward!

House Bill 5580, which mandates counties to utilize local law enforcement for federal immigration enforcement under 287(g) agreements, is progressing rapidly. Introduced in March, the bill is set for a public hearing on Monday, April 14. With its Senate counterpart, SB8, already passed, this moment represents a pivotal opportunity to voice opposition before it is enacted into law.

Concurrently, lawmakers are considering a broad constitutional amendment. Senate Joint Resolution 1 (SJR 1), along with House Joint Resolution 16 (HJR 16), proposes allowing pretrial detention based solely on an imprecise and potentially discriminatory definition of “illegal alien.”

If passed, these resolutions would compel Texas judges to jail individuals accused—not convicted—of certain crimes, simply because of how they entered the United States. This means people with regular or protected immigration status, including legal permanent residents, DACA recipients, asylees, and even naturalized citizens, could be automatically detained and deported without due process. 

While this is happening in Texas, the stakes are national. What starts in Texas often spreads to other states, especially when it aligns with a broader federal exclusionary and discriminatory agenda. These are not isolated proposals—they are test cases for expanding a nationwide mass deportation framework that bypasses constitutional safeguards.

Texas is a Testing Ground for National Immigration Policy. We urge all community members to take immediate action.

As a national organization committed to human and civil rights, we urge you to act now to stop these proposals from moving forward in Texas. Please see the information below to send a message to Texas representatives: 

Contact your legislators and ask them to oppose SB 8 (HB 5580) and SJR 1 (HJR 16). These bills would significantly broaden criminalization and immigration enforcement, posing a serious threat to our communities.

Call or email committee members to  them to VOTE NO on HB 5580! Below is contact information for each committee member, as well as a call script. You can also send this message by email. 

📞 Call Script: Oppose HB5580

Hi, my name is [Your Name], and I’m calling to urge Representative [Last Name] to vote NO on HB 5580.vThis bill would force counties to use local police to enforce federal immigration law through 287(g) agreements. These agreements are expensive, ineffective, and dangerous. HB 5580 would divert local law enforcement from investigating real crimes to targeting immigrants for civil violations–putting public safety at risk. Programs like this have led to racial profiling, civil rights violations, and a breakdown in trust between law enforcement and the communities they serve. Texans don’t want our police turned into ICE agents. Please vote NO on HB 5580.

1. Find your representatives:Visit wrm.capitol.texas.gov and enter your address to find your State Senator and State Representative.
2. Make the call:
   Call the Texas Capitol switchboard at 512-463-4630 and ask to speak with your legislators. Urge them to vote NO on SJR 1 and HJR 16.
3. Send an email:
   Personalize a message that explains how these proposals will harm families, waste taxpayer money, and violate basic rights.
4. Spread the word:
   Share this information with your networks. Mobilize your communities, organizations, and faith groups.

📞 Call Script: Oppose SJR 1 / HJR 16

Hi, my name is [Your Name], and I’m a resident of [Your City or County]. I’m calling to urge you  to vote NO on SJR 1 and HJR 16.These bills are unconstitutional and extremely harmful. They would mandate pretrial detention for people simply accused of a felony—based on a broad and unclear definition of "illegal alien." This would jail legally innocent people without due process, separate families, and overburden our local jails.

They would also blur the line between immigration and criminal law, risking wrongful detention of people with legal status—including DACA recipients and even U.S. citizens.

This is a dangerous step that puts our communities at risk, drains county resources, and fuels the private prison industry. Please vote NO on SJR 1 and HJR 16.

Thank you for your time.

Support NNIRR!

Every contribution makes a difference. We are deeply grateful for your solidarity and partnership.

Your contributions support NNIRR to:

• Advocate for immigration policy that centers human rights
• Lift up grassroots leadership, organizing, and advocacy
• Spotlight human rights organizing at the US-Mexico border
• Advocate for international migrant rights & human rights at borders
• Organize at the intersections of gender, climate justice, and migrant rights