AUSTIN, Texas (AP) _ State officials are again considering deporting foreign nationals serving time in Texas prisons for nonviolent crime, according to the Austin American Statesman.
The newspaper reports that the increase of the population of foreign nationals in Texas and a looming state budget crisis next year is prompting the new look. However, the plan carries concerns that deported criminals might be allowed to go free in their home countries.
That’s prompting some state officials to consider deportation of a percentage of the nonviolent offenders who are foreign nationals.
State Sen. Eddie Lucio, a Brownsville Democrat and proponent of the concept, says “It could mean a lot of jobs, economic development, because the federal government will have to find a place to put them before they deport them.”
Federal Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials declined to comment.