State lawmakers across the U.S. have dramatically increased efforts to impose restrictions on migrants and immigration, according to a new report released Thursday by the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC). The report highlights a rise in what it terms “anti-immigrant” legislation, with 233 bills and resolutions introduced this year alone, a sharp increase from 132 last year and just 51 in 2020.
LULAC, the nation’s oldest Latino civil rights organization, pointed to a range of legislative efforts aimed at tightening immigration controls. These include stricter identification requirements, harsher penalties for unauthorized border crossings, and the elimination of so-called “sanctuary cities,” which limit local cooperation with federal immigration authorities.
“Restrictionist states pass legislation to create a hostile environment, deterring undocumented immigrants from settling within their borders,” the report stated. Among the measures being promoted are full cooperation with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) detainer requests, banning undocumented students from attending public colleges, and criminalizing the presence of undocumented individuals in certain states.
The vast majority of these bills have been sponsored by Republican lawmakers, with Texas emerging as a leader in these efforts. According to LULAC, Texas has introduced 91 restrictive immigration measures since 2020, more than any other state.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott (R) has been engaged in a legal battle with the Biden administration over immigration enforcement at the southern border. The White House maintains that immigration is a federal issue, but Abbott has continued to push state-level initiatives, including Senate Bill 4 (SB4), which grants Texas officials the authority to detain and deport individuals suspected of entering the U.S. illegally from Mexico.
“Thousands of brave Texas National Guard soldiers are deployed to support Operation Lone Star. These soldiers are on the frontlines,” Abbott posted on social media platform X. “They hold the line against illegal immigrants, dangerous cartels, and violent criminals trying to cross our border.”
The LULAC report estimates that there are approximately 11.2 million undocumented immigrants living in the United States, with 66% identifying as Latino. The report argues that Latinos, regardless of their legal status, are disproportionately impacted by these laws.
“The divisive rhetoric of former President Trump has intensified a more aggressive campaign against immigrants and Latinos,” LULAC stated. “As a result, millions of undocumented immigrants are facing increasing villainization and negative consequences as the number of anti-immigrant proposals rises at an alarming rate.”