Baby Boom
What to know: President Donald Trump has issued new executive orders to deter “birth tourism,” in which foreigners arrange to give birth in the U.S., thereby ensuring the baby has American citizenship.
The TPPF take: Texas is already taking aim at birth tourism.
“Time and time again, Texas has had to act where the federal government has fallen short,” says TPPF’s Selene Rodriguez. “The state can enforce its laws against fraud, protect taxpayers from exploitation, and hold accountable those who profit from abusing the immigration system.”
Highway Accountability
What to know: In 2025 alone, investigators found 17 fatal crashes involving illegal immigrants who had been unlawfully granted CDLs and allowed to drive massive 18-wheelers.
The TPPF take: Texas has cracked down on illegal immigrants using CDLs.
“There’s lots of good reasons for that, including getting the state out of the business of creating phony ID cards, but, speaking for the millions of people who drive on I-35 every day, it is also a public safety move,” says TPPF’s Sherry Sylvester. “The U.S. Dept. of Transportation is now keeping track of fatal crashes caused by illegal immigrants driving 18 wheelers, and in Congress, Rep. Jim Banks, R-Indiana, launched a tip line that will allow people to report illegal aliens who are driving big rigs.”
Water Challenges
What to know: Texas communities are facing growing water challenges, the San Antonio Express-News reports.
The TPPF take: Water is crucial to the future of Texas.
“Texas’ population will increase 53% between 2030 and 2080 to 52.3 million,” says TPPF’s Larry French. “Over half that population growth will be in the planning regions that include the Dallas-Fort Worth and Houston metropolitan areas. During roughly the same time, water supplies are estimated to decrease by about 10%, mostly due to the depletion of aquifers in the High Plains.”