El Pasoans will testify on immigration at statehouse

By Brandi Grissom / Austin Bureau

Article Launched: 03/24/2007 12:00:44 AM MDT

AUSTIN -- Some high-profile El Pasoans are among people invited to testify at what could be the opening salvo in a brewing Texas House battle over how the state should deal with illegal immigration and the porous border.

Mayor John Cook, U.S. Rep. Silves re Reyes, D-Texas, El Paso County Sheriff's Office spokesman Rick Glancey and immigration lawyer Kathleen Walker are on list of more than 40 experts Texas lawmakers have asked to testify at an immigration and border security hearing scheduled for Wednesday.

State Rep. David Swinford, R-Dumas, will lead the joint hearing of the House State Affairs and Border and International Affairs Committees.

Swinford, chairman of the State Affairs Committee, has filed legislation that he has said would probably become the House's primary immigration and border security proposal.

Legislators have filed more than 30 bills this session that aim to create disincentives for migrants to stay in Texas illegally and to reduce the burden undocumented immigrants put on taxpayers.