Abbott Pushes Statewide Prosecutor, Denial of Bail for Immigrants as Texas Crime Fight Heats Up
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Jun 12
Abbott Pushes Statewide Prosecutor, Denial of Bail for Immigrants as Texas Crime Fight Heats Up
2 articles · Updated · Fox News · Jun 12
Summary
Greg Abbott unveiled a public-safety package centered on a new statewide prosecutor and automatic bail denial for undocumented immigrants accused of violent crimes, putting the proposals at the center of Texas midterm politics.
The statewide prosecutor would step in when a local district attorney fails to secure an indictment within 90 days, reflecting Abbott’s argument that "soft-on-crime" prosecutors are letting serious offenders avoid accountability.
Abbott’s team tied the push to Travis County cases in which two murder suspects were released on reduced bonds after missed indictment deadlines, though a judge this week dismissed criminal-wrongdoing allegations against DA Jose Garza and other prosecutors.
The agenda also sharpens Abbott’s attack on Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico, highlighting his votes against past policing and bail measures and an excused absence on a failed bill denying bail to undocumented immigrants charged with violent crimes.
Creating the prosecutor’s office would require legislative approval, while ending bail for undocumented immigrants and making district attorneys impeachable would require statewide constitutional votes.