Opinion: Property ownership bill threatens immigrant groups

This legislative session, Texas State Senator Lois Kolkhorst, a Republican representing District 18, has been making the news with Senate Bill (S.B.) 147, a proposal banning property acquisition or ownership by citizens of China, Iran, Russia, and North Korea. The bill makes no distinction between those who also live and work in Texas with legal status. It also applies to dual citizens like myself. Governor Greg Abbott has thrown his support behind the bill, announcing that he will sign it.

This bill is riddled with problems. It treats entities that are majority-owned by these countries’ governments the same way as it treats private individuals who have citizenship there. It violates the 14th Amendment when it comes to citizens and non-citizens alike. It arguably is an unconstitutional foray into foreign policy for a state government. It essentially redlines certain immigrant groups out of property ownership in Texas.

Yet, with one party continuing its decades-long control of the Texas government, this bill may very well become law.

Whether or not it passes, however, this bill is a reminder that if you or your family fled a dictatorial country and came to America seeking greater rights and freedoms, Texas will not grant you the same rights and freedoms afforded to other citizens. It is a reminder to all immigrants that living in Texas means you are forever a convenient political target; the arrows will come your way depending on how the political winds blow. While so many immigrants and families like my own consider ourselves part of American society, we are regularly labeled "other" in the speeches politicians make and in the laws they propose.

Senator Kolkhorst has claimed that this bill is aimed at combating foreign governments’ influence in Texas, not lawful residents. This assurance is inadequate for every person fearing the passage of this bill. Damage has already been done to not just the four immigrant groups named in this bill, but also to those who wonder if they could be next. Senator Kolkhorst and those who helped draft S.B. 147 could have easily added a couple of lines to ensure that those with legal status would not have their property rights taken away. She did not. She chose instead to leave our status uncertain, our future in doubt.

But beyond the fear and anger, we can take away something else from S.B. 147. We, the Asian American Pacific Islander community, are truly a coalition. When we stand against hate, we must stand together. The stakes are high, because what passes in Texas does not stay in Texas. Texas has been at the vanguard of enacting problematic and often discriminatory legislation, such as restrictions on social studies educators and voter suppression targeted at minority communities, that are taken up by other state legislatures in the South. Our solidarity here can discourage more states from subjecting their residents to similar proposals.

My hope is that SB 147 will fail. This hope comes from seeing the rapid response from elected officials, both Asian American Pacific Islander and non-Asian American Pacific Islander, and community groups against this discriminatory bill. We join together and say unequivocally that no matter what citizenship you hold, you deserve the right to build a life in Texas.

Please join me in contacting Senator Kolkhorst at Lois.Kolkhorst@senate.texas.gov or calling her Capitol office line at (512) 463-0118.

Hafizi is the Civic Engagement Director of Emgage Action's Texas state chapter.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Opinion: Property ownership bill threatens immigrant groups