State Representative Terri Leo Wilson (R–Galveston) introduced House Bill 256 on Tuesday to grant the Texas Department of Public Safety the authority to conduct DNA testing on migrants unlawfully crossing into Texas State from Mexico.
The proposed legislation compels the Department of Public Safety to collaborate with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to focus on specific groups of foreign nationals suspected of providing false information regarding their familial relationships.
Should the legislation be approved, it is scheduled to begin September 1, 2025. During a visit to the border last year, U.S. Senator Ted Cruz emphasized the crucial use of DNA testing in combating child trafficking and preventing family fraud.
Family fraud involves illegal foreign adults who often use children as leeway to enter the United States, get a court date to appear in immigration court, and never show up. “You grab a kid, and that is your U.S. passport,” said then-Acting Commissioner for the US Customs and Border Protection.