TX Explores Creating State-Level Immigration Laws:  A Deputy Texas attorney told lawmakers that, if "crafted carefully," they  can write laws allowing the state to crack down on illegal immigrants and illegal border crossers without conflicting with the U.S. Constitution.  Julian Aguilar of the Texas Tribune reports that Texas Deputy Attorney General Brantley Starr says that, despite the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling that immigration is "one of the few enumerated powers the federal government has," the states do "have the ability to create state-level offenses that have an immigration element to them as long as they are sufficiently unique."  Starr referenced House Bill 11, signed by Gov. Greg Abbott in June, which made it a state felony to smuggle someone into the U.S. for pay by adding new state-level elements without seizing deportation powers from the federal government.  The law has already assisted state police in apprehending criminals that federal agents may have released.

Death Penalty May be on 2016 CA Ballot:  Two groups, one in favor of and one opposed to capital punishment, have drafted initiatives and preparing to collect signatures for measures that would give Californians the choice between more expeditious executions or none at all.  Scott Shafer of KQED reports that one of the proposals, called "The Justice that Works Act of 2016," would scrap executions altogether, converting existing death sentences to life in prison without the possibility of parole.  The other measure, the "Death Penalty Reform and Savings Act of 2016," would limit inmate appeals to prevent the process from dragging on for decades, resulting in faster executions.  Additionally, it would give the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) greater freedom in housing death row inmates and require them to work, with 70 percent of their earnings going to crime victims.  The proposal is currently being reviewed by the Attorney General's office, and if it, along with the anti-death penalty measure, is green lighted, there will be 180 days to acquire the necessary signatures to put the measures before voters on the November 2016 ballot.  

Over 30 Immigrants Admitted to U.S. Tied to Terrorism:  The office of Sen. Jeff Sessions highlighted on Tuesday an unsettling number of terrorists who were recently granted access to the U.S. through its immigration system.  Caroline May of Breitbart reports that Sessions, the chairman of the Subcommittee on Immigration and the National Interest, provided over 30 examples of immigrants admitted to the U.S. who were recently implicated in terrorist activities, reinforcing his concern with passing a spending bill that fails to place limitations on admissions to the U.S., particularly refugee admissions.  He has warned against President Obama's "blank refugee check" and passing a spending deal without "limiting language," and has stated that Congress needs to take back control of the immigration program.  Sessions' office noted that the 30 examples listed represent only a "partial inventory" of migrants recently implicated in terrorism.