Texas Leads While California Faces Riots

Last week, as images of riots filled the news — businesses burning, law enforcement under siege, and streets overtaken by mobs in Los Angeles — I couldn’t help but think: This is what happens when a state turns its back on the rule of law.

We’ve seen unrest like this before. And while California politicians rushed to excuse the chaos and blame the response, Texas drew a line in the sand. We’re not going down that path. Texas will not become California.

That’s why, even before President Trump returned to office and began restoring immigration enforcement, we in Texas took action. Because we had to.

We remember what it was like: open-border policies, record-breaking illegal crossings, deadly fentanyl pouring in by the ton, and countless criminals slipping through the cracks. The Biden administration left the border wide open, and Texas had no choice but to stand in the gap.

We did what we could. Governor Abbott launched Operation Lone Star, and the Legislature backed it with serious funding. Since the start of OLS we have apprehended over 530,000 illegal immigrants, more than 50,000 criminal arrests have been made (including over 43,000 felonies), and perhaps most staggering of all, law enforcement has seized 622 million lethal doses of fentanyl — enough to kill every person in the U.S., Mexico, and Canada.

As a legislator, I did everything in my power to support these efforts this session.

I voted for the new 287(g) law, which empowers more Texas sheriffs to directly partner with federal immigration authorities. This ensures that when illegal immigrants commit crimes in our communities, they don’t just serve time — they’re flagged for deportation and removed from our streets.

I co-authored House Concurrent Resolution 40, calling on Congress to reimburse Texas for the billions we spent protecting the nation when others wouldn’t. That effort helped pave the way for funding now included in President Trump’s "one big beautiful bill" — because Texas taxpayers shouldn’t bear this burden alone.

We also dedicated $46 million to border prosecution grants, giving local law enforcement the tools they need to pursue traffickers and smugglers and bring them to justice. And in a year where many called for budget cuts, I stood strong for a $3.5 billion investment in border security — because public safety is not optional.

Now, with President Trump back in charge, Texas has a federal partner ready to help us finish the job. We’re no longer carrying the full weight alone. But that doesn’t mean we let up.

What’s happening in California is a warning — not just about failed leadership, but about what happens when a state forgets the importance of order, enforcement, and sovereignty.'

In Texas, we remember. We remember the border crisis. We remember being alone. And we remember who stood with us then — and who is standing with us now.

President Trump is leading the charge to restore American security. I’m proud to stand with him — and with the brave Texans who never stopped fighting to protect our families, our communities, and our country.

We held the line. Now, with the right leadership and the right priorities, we’re helping finish the job.

Thank you for reading my weekly column! Make sure you stay connected and informed about the legislative process by calling our Capitol office at (512) 463-0600 or by following my social media page at www.facebook.com/AngeliaOrrForTX.

– Conservative State Representative Angelia Orr