The Texas Senate is considering legislation that would establish a dedicated state-level border enforcement agency, marking another step toward Texas asserting control over its southern border. Senate Bill 135, filed by State Senator Bob Hall (R-Edgewood), proposes creating the Texas Division of Homeland Security (Texas DHS) to enforce border security laws and combat illegal immigration independently of federal authorities.

As advocates for Texas independence, we’ve long maintained that border security is a prime example of federal failure that necessitates state-level action. The proposed Texas DHS would coordinate efforts between local, state, and federal agencies while taking the lead on intelligence gathering and investigations into criminal activities along our border. This represents exactly the kind of state-based solution that demonstrates Texas’s capability for self-governance.

The Federal Government’s deliberate neglect of border security has forced Texas to spend billions of our tax dollars on Operation Lone Star. While this operation has achieved some success, the creation of a permanent Texas DHS would provide a more sustainable, institutionalized approach to border protection. This agency would serve as a permanent fixture of Texas sovereignty, rather than a temporary response to federal inaction.

Our economic analysis shows that Texas, with its robust economy and resources, has the capacity to maintain such an agency effectively. The proposed Texas DHS would operate similarly to how a sovereign Texas’s border protection force would function, offering a practical preview of independent border management.

Critics might question whether Texas has the authority to create such an agency. However, the Tenth Amendment clearly reserves powers not delegated to the Federal Government to the states. When the Federal Government fails to fulfill its constitutional duties, Texas not only has the right but the obligation to protect its citizens and territory.

The Texas DHS initiative demonstrates that Texas can develop and implement sophisticated state-level solutions to federal failures. Whether within the current system or as an independent nation, Texas continues to prove its capability for self-governance. We call on all Texans to support Senate Bill 135 as both a practical measure for immediate border security and a step toward Texas independence.