Texas lawmakers put the brakes on sweeping immigration enforcement bill. For now

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With only about two days left in the special legislative session, Texas Republicans have all but given up hope on passing a sweeping immigration enforcement bill deemed a priority by Gov. Greg Abbott and the state’s other GOP leadership.

The Texas Senate met briefly Sunday afternoon but gaveled out without taking up House Bill 4.

The chamber’s afternoon schedule included possible debate on the measure, which would create a new state crime for unauthorized entry into Texas from Mexico. With the current special session of the Texas Legislature ending Tuesday, HB 4 will likely need to be revisited during the state’s next round of legislative overtime.

Since late May, Abbott has ordered lawmakers back to Austin three times to handle unfinished business, including immigration enforcement and education savings accounts (ESAs), a school voucher-like program. While the education legislation was always considered more contentious, the immigration proposals have been caught in an intra-party skirmish between Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and House Speaker Dade Phelan, R-Beaumont.