Texas Gov. Greg Abbott intensified his push for tougher criminal justice policies on Thursday, calling on lawmakers to pass a series of measures next legislative session aimed at increasing public safety, targeting repeat offenders, and holding local prosecutors more accountable.
Speaking at a press conference in Austin alongside law enforcement officials and state lawmakers, Abbott said Texans are frustrated with what he described as a justice system that has failed crime victims and allowed dangerous offenders back onto the streets. The governor framed the upcoming legislative agenda as a direct response to those concerns, promising that public safety would remain a top priority for state leaders in 2027.
Among Abbott’s top priorities is a proposed constitutional amendment that would automatically deny bail to illegal immigrants charged with violent crimes. The proposal mirrors legislation considered during the last legislative session that cleared the Texas Senate with the required two-thirds majority but failed to receive enough support in the Texas House to place the amendment before voters.
Abbott argued that violent offenders who are in the country illegally should not be allowed to secure release from jail while awaiting trial. The governor also used the event to highlight broader concerns over repeat violent offenders and what he characterized as lenient bail practices in some jurisdictions.
The governor pointed to the results of a multi-agency task force first launched in the Houston area last October. According to Abbott, the operation has now expanded into Austin, Dallas, and San Antonio and has already led to hundreds of arrests tied to repeat criminal offenders.
State officials said the initiative resulted in the arrests of more than 700 repeat offenders within roughly six months. Those arrests reportedly included 455 individuals labeled as “high threat” offenders and 155 known gang members. Authorities also seized significant quantities of illegal drugs and weapons, including an estimated 225,000 lethal doses of fentanyl, more than 100 pounds of methamphetamine, and over 100 firearms. Investigators additionally recovered dozens of stolen vehicles.
Abbott said the success of the task force demonstrated the effectiveness of coordinated law enforcement efforts but insisted additional legal reforms are needed to keep dangerous suspects behind bars.
Another major proposal outlined by the governor would establish a state prosecutor appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Texas Senate. Abbott argued that such an office would provide a backstop in situations where local district attorneys fail to aggressively prosecute criminal cases.
The governor specifically criticized José Garza, claiming the Travis County district attorney’s office failed to bring indictments against more than 200 jailed suspects within the 90-day period required under Texas law. Abbott said those delays led to suspects, including individuals accused of murder, being released on low bonds.
Abbott cited one case in which a murder suspect was allegedly released on a $1 bond, calling the situation unacceptable and evidence that stronger oversight mechanisms are necessary.
The governor also renewed calls to allow for the impeachment of district attorneys accused of failing to properly perform their duties. Abbott noted that statewide officials, legislators, and judges can already face impeachment proceedings in Texas, while district attorneys are largely shielded from that process.
Abbott dismissed concerns that impeachment powers could be abused for political reasons, pointing out that impeachments in Texas remain extremely rare. He argued that accountability measures are necessary for prosecutors who refuse to enforce laws or who repeatedly mishandle serious criminal cases.
Newly elected state Sen. Brett Ligon, a former Montgomery County district attorney, appeared alongside Abbott and is expected to help craft legislation dealing with what the governor described as “rogue” prosecutors.
Ligon echoed Abbott’s public safety message and sharply criticized Garza’s leadership in Travis County, arguing that prosecutors must be held accountable when violent offenders are not aggressively pursued.
Victims’ advocates also participated in the press conference, including Kristina Byington, whose sister Anita was murdered in Austin in 1991. Byington criticized Garza’s handling of the case involving Allen Andre Causey, the alleged killer. Although courts ordered a retrial, Garza later dropped the prosecution and approved a $2.5 million compensation payment to Causey.
