A new Texas law eliminates privileges for foreign-born employees

Workers and supporters held an action on July 14 in front of Houston’s City Hall in support of whatever they are recording “la ley que mata,” or “the law that destroys.” HB 2127, which eliminates important housing for workers and labor rights, goes into impact on September 1.

Just last month, Gov. Greg Abbott approved HB 2127, commonly referred to as the “Death Star” measure by supporters, prompting workers to appeal to President Joe Biden to step in to save further workplace fatalities. It notably targets progressive regulations that strengthen labor protections, such as those governing wages for overtime, breaks for rest, and drink breaks—changes that will have an immediate effect on undocumented employees in Texas. The bill eliminates local regulations and laws.

In a broader sense, the law may prevent towns from adopting rules that affect things like property, employment, natural assets, business and trade, finance, insurance, and farming. To put it briefly, according to the Texas Tribune, “the Legislature thought there’s excessive Democracy going on in Texas, so it has done something regarding it.”