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Texas lawmakers are considering blocking citizens of China, Iran, North Korea and Russia from owning any kind of business in the state and restricting what land they can own. Opponents of the legislation say it is racist.
For VOA, Deana Mitchell reports from the Texas State House in Austin.
Content TypePackage
LanguageEnglish
Transcript/ScriptTEXAS LAND BAN (TV/R)
HEADLINE: Texas Lawmakers Consider Blocking Some Foreign Ownership of Land
TEASER: Bill targets citizens from China, Iran, North Korea and Russia
PUBLISHED: 3/2/2023 at 8:45 p
BYLINE: Deana Mitchell
DATELINE: Austin, Texas
VIDEOGRAPHER: Deana Mitchell
PRODUCER: Deana Mitchell
SCRIPT EDITORS: Stearns, Reifenrath SR
VIDEO SOURCE (S): VOA, AP, AFP, Xiao Bai and AALC, Texas Senate videostream
PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB __ TV X RADIO X
TRT: 2:49
VID APPROVED BY: Jepsen
TYPE: TVPKG
EDITOR NOTES:
((INTRO))
Texas lawmakers are considering blocking citizens of China, Iran, North Korea and Russia from owning any kind of business in the state and restricting what land they can own. Opponents of the legislation say it is racist. For VOA, Deana Mitchell reports from the Texas State House in Austin.
((NARRATOR))
Texas state Senator Lois Kolkhorst says legislation that would ban citizens of Iran, North Korea, Russia, and China from owning commercial businesses and certain types of land in Texas is about security.
((Sen. Lois Kolkhorst, Republican))
"Let me be clear that the citizens of the state of Texas understand the threat of which we are under. They are crystal clear about it. Both Democrats, Republicans and independents. I’ve never seen something polled this high–ever. And so, I am proud to bring something before you, to consider–from the people."
((NARRATOR))
Kolkhorst opened a public hearing on the legislation Thursday. State Representative Gene Wu says it is un-American to treat people differently because of where they were born.
((Rep. Gene Wu, Democrat))
“What it's essentially saying is every immigrant, every person, from these countries is a spy, is a traitor, is a possible agent for these countries. And that is simply unjust–especially considering that many of the people coming from China, from Iran, from Russia, are people who are fleeing those governments, who want nothing to do with those governments.”
((NARRATOR))
Texas Department of Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller says he worked hard with lawmakers to draft the legislation after a Chinese billionaire with alleged ties to the Chinese military bought more than 52,000 hectares of land in South Texas with plans to build a wind farm near an Air Force base.
((Sid Miller, Texas Department of Agriculture Commissioner))
“If an individual wants to buy land, just become a U.S. citizen. You can buy all the land you want once you become a U.S. citizen. But if you're a member of the Communist Party or one of our enemies? No. You don't get to buy land.”
((NARRATOR))
Jamal Abdi, president of the National Iranian American Council, says the problem with this bill is that it targets individuals with no ties to foreign governments. He believes it will greenlight greater racism.
((Jamal Abdi, National Iranian American Council)) ((Mandatory CG: ZOOM))
“I think it's going to encourage sort of vigilante-style enforcement where people are going to say, ‘Well it's state law that I have to ban Chinese citizens or Iranian citizens from buying a home or buying property. And so, I’m going to take it in my own hands to make sure I'm not doing that.”
((NARRATOR))
Wu says the bill is bad for business.
((Rep. Gene Wu, Democrat))
“China is the second-largest trading partner with Texas, and China is the third-largest purchaser of Texas goods. And if you tell graduate students that if you come here, you may not be able to start a business, why would they come here? Why not go somewhere else where you are actually welcomed?”
((Sid Miller, Texas Department of Agriculture Commissioner))
“That's the whole point of the bill, is to keep people from China coming here, buying our land. You got it. That's the whole purpose. Yes. That will keep people from China coming here buying our land. We don't want that. It needs to stop.”
((NARRATOR))
If the bill is approved by both houses of the Texas Legislature, Governor Greg Abbott says he is ready to sign it into law.
((Deana Mitchell, for VOA News, Austin, Texas))
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
NetworkVOA
Location (dateline)
Austin, Texas
Embargo DateMarch 2, 2023 17:06 EST
Byline((Deana Mitchell, for VOA News, Austin, Texas))
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English
