PORT ARTHUR, Texas — The Southeast Texas business community is working to learn more about the impact of a new state law will have on them locally.
In December 2023 Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed Texas Senate Bill 4. This law makes it a state crime to cross the border illegally and it stiffens the penalties for anyone who employs undocumented migrants.
"Senate Bill 4 is the criminalization of immigration at the state level here in Texas," said Texas Immigration Law Council Director of Policy and Legal Services Kristin Etter.
Southeast Texas business owners and leaders spent Friday learning how SB4 could affect their operations.
"If you're an employer and you have an employee, and they're driving one of your vehicles and if that employee is undocumented gets pulled over, guess who's in trouble both of you are," said Texas Association of Mexican American Chamber of Commerce Vice Chair J.R. Gonzales.
Under SB4 business owners who employ undocumented migrants can face charges of human smuggling and prison time. But even the employees can be penalized.
"This has the potential to put people at risk of being charged with smuggling for giving a coworker a ride home, or giving a student a ride home. And this is not a Latino or Hispanic issue. This is just an American issue because America is a land full of immigrants," said Texas State Representative for District 22 Christian Manuel.
This part of the law goes into effect on February 6, 2024 and would enhance the punishment to 10 to 15 years in prison.
Governor Abbott says taking these extreme measures are necessary to stop the influx of migrants crossing illegally into Texas.
"With SB4 the consequences of it are so extreme we expect a dramatic drop, well over 50% maybe 75% of the people coming across the border illegally, will stop entering through the State of Texas," Governor Abbott said.
The Department of Justice is still challenging part of this new law. The federal government says that border enforcement and arresting migrants is outside of the state's jurisdiction.