Public safety concerns are on the rise in Austin, prompting increased attention from Texans and their elected officials. In 2022, both the violent crime rate and the property crime rate in Austin were higher than the national average (U.S. News & World Report, n.d.). Further, Austin’s homicide rate was “trending above the state and national average” as of July 2024 (Velez, 2024). “The last four years have definitely been the most murderers that we’ve ever had,” the Austin Police Department reported (Velez, 2024). The challenges surrounding public safety have been compounded by Austin’s management of its law enforcement resources. A key factor in this issue is the jurisdictional divide in the city. The area surrounding the Capitol, along with numerous other owned buildings, does not fall under the City of Austin’s authority. Instead, this region, known as the Capitol Complex, is under state jurisdiction.
Border Security
STATE IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT ISN’T A POLICY PREFERENCE: It’s a Core Function of Sovereignty, Public Safety, and National Security
Protects Citizenship: Citizenship is the covenant that binds a political community, defining rights, duties, and the consent to self-government. Immigration enforcement maintains the legal boundary between members and non-members. When unlawful entry and presence are left unregulated at scale, that boundary erodes. Membership is no longer determined by law and allegiance, but by physical access...
May 26, 2026