A new bill in the Texas state Legislature seeking to bill the feds for the cost of illegal immigration aptly demonstrates why the states should follow both the federal Constitution and their own state Constitution, rather than politicians thousands of miles away who violate it.

If passed, it would send an invoice to the feds for the cost of providing education, health care, and the incarceration of illegal immigrants for the past two years.

That the feds don’t enforce immigration laws is well known. But Texas and other border states could save themselves a lot of trouble by not providing those services in the first place.

As former Texas Congressman Ron Paul stated, when you subsidize something, you get more of it.

If Texas refused to provide government subsidizes for immigrants, refused to admit them into their schools and did not force hospitals to accept them as patients, the burden of providing for them would fall into the private sector, instead of by force through taxes.

It is important to understand that is not about being pro-immigration or anti-immigration. It is about following state and federal law, both of which are currently being flouted in Texas because the feds have absconded their duties, and the state is tacitly supporting them. It is about holding the feds accountable to their actions and the oaths they took to uphold the Constitution.

Better yet, rather than invoicing the feds, Texas should cease paying for it in the first place.

TJ Martinell

The 10th Amendment

“The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.”

LEARN MORE

01

Featured Articles

On the Constitution, history, the founders, and analysis of current events.

featured articles

02

Tenther Blog and News

Nullification news, quick takes, history, interviews, podcasts and much more.

tenther blog

03

State of the Nullification Movement

232 pages. History, constitutionality, and application today.

get the report

01

Path to Liberty

Our flagship podcast. Michael Boldin on the constitution, history, and strategy for liberty today

path to liberty

02

Maharrey Minute

The title says it all. Mike Maharrey with a 1 minute take on issues under a 10th Amendment lens. maharrey minute

Tenther Essentials

2-4 minute videos on key Constitutional issues - history, and application today

TENTHER ESSENTIALS

Join TAC, Support Liberty!

Nothing helps us get the job done more than the financial support of our members, from just $2/month!

JOIN TAC

01

The 10th Amendment

History, meaning, and purpose - the "Foundation of the Constitution."

10th Amendment

03

Nullification

Get an overview of the principles, background, and application in history - and today.

nullification