The Brief: Texans react to Trump's immigration plans

Tribune Today

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The Big Story

Since his victory on Nov. 8, President-elect Donald Trump has doubled down on the immigration policies he campaigned on. While no one knows for sure what promises his administration will actually deliver on, here’s what we know so far:

•  On CBS News' "60 Minutes," Trump said he’d deport 2 to 3 million people and remained firm on his promise to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border, though he said he would settle for a fence in some areas. In his interview, Trump said, “we are going to ... get the people that are criminal[s] and have criminal records, gang members [and] drug dealers.” Last week, the Tribune spoke to several undocumented immigrants, including one who said he "wouldn't even know how to get around Mexico" if he was sent back.

•  According to the New York Times, Trump’s plan, if carried out, would require raids by a vastly larger federal immigration force to hunt down these immigrants and send them out of the country. The Obama administration estimated that there are 1.9 million “removable criminal aliens” in the United States but that that number includes people who hold green cards for legal permanent residency, those who have temporary visas and people who have been convicted of nonviolent crimes such as theft.

•  On Tuesday, the second day to file bills for the 2017 legislative session, state Sen. Charles Perry filed legislation that would ban "sanctuary cities" – a term used to describe cities that refuse to enforce federal immigration laws. While similar legislation Perry filed in 2015 didn’t garner enough votes to make it out of the Senate, Perry said he hopes this year will be different under a Republican president.

•  And with a tight Texas budget session ahead, if Trump delivers on his promise to increase security on the U.S.-Mexico border, leading Texas lawmakers say they might stop spending so much money on it. "We’ve been spending a lot of state resources on issues associated with the border, border security, transnational gangs, human trafficking, so I look forward to maybe holding back on some of that money, actually,” said Sen. Charles Schwertner, R-Georgetown, a member of the powerful Senate Finance Committee.

Help us report on the impact of Trump's proposed immigration policies by telling us how his plans will impact you or your community. Your privacy is important to us. You may also share stories confidentially by emailing reporter Alexa Ura at aura@texastribune.org.

#TxLege Today 

The House Committee on County Affairs will meet today (10 a.m., E2.016 Hearing Room) to discuss improvements to both Child Protective Services and the criminal justice system. See the full committee schedule.

What We're Reading

(Links below lead to outside websites; content might be behind paywall)

Most border arrests by Texas troopers are not for drug smuggling, KXAN

Two Texas congressmen lose bids for House GOP leadership jobs, The Dallas Morning News

Trump’s digital ad exec based in San Antonio, San Antonio Express-News

Trump across Texas, visualized, Houston Chronicle 

Many border drug smugglers avoid prison in Texas, KXAN

Today in TribTalk

"It is incumbent on conservatives to uphold our principles and speak out against actions that violate our most cherished constitutional precepts — regardless of the occupant of the White House."

— Matt Krause, State representative, R-Fort Worth

"There can be no denying that the technology industry plays a significant role in Texas' economy and in global innovation as a whole. However, our state Legislature and Governor's Office have not evolved to properly handle technology issues."

— Ron Yokubaitis and Shane Menking, Data Foundry 

Trib Events for the Calendar

•   A Symposium Previewing the 85th Legislature on Nov. 29 at The University of Texas - Texas Union Ballroom

•   A Conversation with Michael K. Young, President of Texas A&M University on Dec. 1 at The Austin Club

•   San Antonio & the Legislature: A Preview of the 85th on Dec. 2 at University of Texas at San Antonio – Downtown Campus

•   A Conversation with Sen.-elect Dawn Buckingham & Rep.-elect Hugh Shine on Dec. 8 at Temple College – Arnold Student Union