Chairman Smithee, Vice Chair Wu, and distinguished members of the Committee:
My name is Ammon Blair, and I am a Senior Fellow at the Texas Public Policy Foundation. I appear before you today to present testimony in strong support of House Joint Resolution 16, which proposes a vital amendment to Article I of the Texas Constitution addressing bail denial for illegal aliens accused of felony offenses. This proposed amendment represents a carefully crafted response to an urgent public safety crisis while recognizing the distinct legal status of those who have entered our country in violation of our laws.
I bring 22 years of military experience and extensive border security expertise from my service in the U.S. Army and U.S. Border Patrol. My roles have included serving as an Infantry Officer in Operation Lone Star, Collateral Intelligence Agent, and Marine Border Patrol Agent.
Read the full testimony below.