Texas Bill Banning Chinese Citizens From Buying Land Is Gaining Steam

In December, a bill targeting immigrants from certain countries was introduced in the Texas state Senate — and unfortunately it’s gaining steam.

Senate Bill 147, written by Republican state Sen. Lois Kolkhorst, would ban people (or businesses) with Chinese, North Korean, Iranian or Russian citizenship from owning a home or property in Texas. For the record, federal law extends the right to home and land ownership to individuals regardless of citizenship status.

Republicans who support the bill believe it is a matter of national security, according to NBC News.

Last month, GOP Gov. Greg Abbott tweeted his support for the measure, which he has claimed would prevent people from countries with “hostile interests” — China, Russia, North Korea, and Iran — from “buying up” farmland.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture says Texas has the largest amount of acreage owned by foreign investors of any U.S. state. A Chinese billionaire purchased 140,000 acres of this land, according to Forbes.