Joint Statement in Opposition to Texas SB 147

The Dallas Asian American Bar Association (DAABA), the Asian American Bar Association of Houston (AABA Houston), the Austin Asian American Bar Association (Austin AABA), and the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) join their voices in opposition to Texas Senate Bill 147, which prohibits individuals from owning land, buying homes, or establishing businesses in Texas based on their family's country of migration.

While we appreciate that Senator Kolkhorst has made some changes and met with community leaders, the proposed amendments do not fully address our communities’ original concerns. Specifically, SB 147 would still cast an indelible shadow of doubt over the rightful property ownership of thousands of Texans who might “appear” to originate from the countries targeted in SB 147, effectively requiring those Texans to carry their passports or immigration cards with them at all times.

For international students and workers who believe in the American dream and wish to pursue citizenship, Senator Kolkhorst’s amendments are cold comfort. Even worse, children born to such individuals on American soil will be impoverished by this bill. They will lose the benefit of generational wealth from real estate investments—historically, one of the only ways America’s earliest immigrant settlers could build wealth—until their parents have received permanent residence or citizenship.

While national security is of paramount importance, this bill abuses that gambit and continues the pervasive legacy of anti-Asian racism and stereotypes of Asians tracing back over a hundred years. It echoes the bigoted Alien Land Laws, which aimed to drive Asian immigrants from this country by stripping them of their ability to buy homes and start businesses in the United States, and also carries reminders of the shameful and unconstitutional treatment of Japanese Americans in the 1940s.

The passage of SB 147, even with the recent amendments, would still represent a dramatic step backwards as it significantly increases opportunities for discrimination. We strongly urge this Committee to reject the legislation to ensure that Texas does not repeat a historic mistake rooted in fear and bigotry.