Members of the Houston Asian community protested against a controversial bill in Texas that is one step closer to becoming law.
Senate Bill 147 aims to prevent citizens from certain countries with hostile stances toward the US government from buying certain types of land in the state.
Those countries include China, Russia, North Korea, and Iran.
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Those against SB 147 say they’re upset the Senate passed the bill because it is considered “racist and xenophobic.”
Senator Lois Kolkhurst, who authored the bill, was not at her office while dozens of protesters who held signs with disappointment rallied nearby.
The bill originally banned citizens from those countries (China, Russia, North Korea, and Iran), even if they were legal, permanent residents. After protests across the state, the bill was watered down.
However, the bill still prevents them from buying agricultural land, oil and gas land, timberland, or mining land in the state.
The bill does not apply to legal residents from those countries, like green card holders and people with dual citizenship.
“It’s watered down, but less discrimination,” said June Xu. “But it’s still discrimination. That did not change. Imagine if I walk into the broker and say I need to buy land. Nobody else has to show their citizenship, but I do based on what? Based on what I look like and my last name so it’s still racial profiling.
The bill will go to the House before it reaches Gov. Greg Abbott’s desk.