Three bail reform bills have advanced in the Texas House. The most controversial is a proposed constitutional amendment to deny bail before trial to people in the country without legal status who are accused of a range of serious felonies.
As Houston Public Media reports, Senate Joint Resolution 1 is also known as “Jocelyn’s Law” for Jocelyn Nungaray. She is the 12-year-old girl sexually assaulted and killed in Houston last year, allegedly by two undocumented immigrants from Venezuela. Republican Representative John Smithee lamented, “Had we passed this constitutional amendment six years ago, there would be little boys and girls still alive today who were tragically killed.”
Democrats say SJR 1 would violate the due process rights of immigrants, especially those brought into the country as children. They are known as Dreamers who are recipients of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). The two other bail reform measures also passed. Senate Bill 9 and Senate Joint Resolution 5 would make it easier to hold those accused of serious crimes without bond before trial in Texas.
