U.S. News
New bill seeks to ban Chinese, other nationals from buying property in Texas
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:
- Gov. Greg Abbott said he will sign a bill that seeks to ban Chinese nationals from buying property in Texas.
- The proposed bill also targets citizens of Iran, North Korea and Russia.
- Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin have also called for barring some property purchases by Chinese nationals.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and other GOP officials are threatening to bar Chinese nationals from buying property in the state. The proposed bill also includes bans on land purchases by citizens from Russia, North Korea, and Iran.
Suspicions about connections between the Chinese government and Chinese companies and individuals are running red hot, from Washington to state capitols across the country.
Abbott has already called for barring TikTok, owned by a Chinese company, from state-owned devices over cybersecurity concerns.
Critics say the policies demonize Chinese Americans, pointing to racist attacks against people of Asian heritage.
State Sen. Lois Kolkhorst, a Republican from Brenham, has proposed banning citizens, governments and entities from China, Iran, North Korea and Russia from purchasing land in Texas.
Abbott has said on Twitter he would sign such a bill into law.
“Communist China, America’s greatest foe, is on a bender,” Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller wrote in an op-ed last year that encouraged such a ban. “They are buying up farmland across the United States and Texas.”
Abbott’s counterparts in Florida and Virginia have also called for barring some property purchases by Chinese nationals. Like Abbott, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin are potential 2024 GOP presidential candidates.
“The growing ownership of Texas land by some foreign entities is highly disturbing,” Kolkhorst said in December after filing the bill.” As an American go try to buy land near a Chinese military base and see how it works out for you.”
She cited the purchase in 2021 of more than 130,000 acres in South Texas by a Chinese firm as part of plans to build a wind farm.
Kolkhorst said on Friday the bill “will make crystal clear that the prohibitions do not apply to United States citizens and lawful permanent residents,” the Texas Tribune reported.
Chinese homebuyers comprised 6% of international homebuyers in Central Texas between April 2021 and March 2022, per a recent report by the Austin Board of Realtors.
Of note: International homebuyers include non-U.S. citizens who are here on a green card or are here on a foreign work or student visa. More than half of the foreign buyers have a U.S. green card, signaling they’re lawful permanent residents.
Source: AOL
John J
February 13, 2023 at 7:07 am
No foreign goverment should be permitted to buy ANY part of our country, PERIOD, end of subject
John M.
February 13, 2023 at 10:34 am
Property ownership should be limited to US Citizens and instrumentalities. Most nations normally do that. That’s not new. For example, when Texas won it’s independence from Mexico, the Mexican padrones lost ownership of their ranches and new deeds were issued by the state. That is a normal and widely accepted practice.
Roninrus1
February 13, 2023 at 7:20 am
Great!
Rosie46
February 13, 2023 at 7:45 am
Totally valid and it’s about time. 130,000 acres next to an AF base is not buying a house. It should be illegal and such purchases should be reversed.
Mike Tracy
February 13, 2023 at 8:05 am
There are other countries that don’t allow ownership of property or even businesses by anybody other than citizens of the country. The law prevents takeover. It’s a good law!
This Country definitely needs the same rules, and especially preventing anybody from any world powers, or terrorist oriented countries or area’s . That most definitely would include preventing any Russians, Chinese, Japanese, any African countries, any Middle East countries, and even any United Kingdom or European countries. Just because some countries are allies of the US doesn’t mean we can trust the conniving basturds.
This country also needs laws preventing any of its Congress or even State level leaders from owning businesses or investing in businesses in other countries. This is a major problem in the US presently. Congress members own or are investors of Chinese business, and those members vote for their pocketbooks on any issues that regard Chinese imports or trade. Those members of Congress are traitors and should be removed from holding any position of this country’s government. Some of them should just be shot for treason.! ! !
Mike Tracy
February 13, 2023 at 8:25 am
Another law that needs to be adopted by all states of the USA is; No US citizen can purchase any businesses or property with foreign funds or be involved in any way with purchases of US businesses or property with any foreign citizens, foreign leaders, foreign businesses, or foreign investors of any kind. Violation of this law carries a possible death sentence for treason!
Mike Tracy
February 13, 2023 at 8:34 am
Liz Cheney, Joe Biden, Hunter Biden, and numerous other congress members and their associates own massive investments in Chinese businesses and other countries’ businesses. They vote with their pocketbooks and do not consider the damage their investment causes to the United States.
Traitors! Traitors! Traitors!
Leslie
February 13, 2023 at 3:30 pm
This definitely applies to Bill Gates! Treason & anti American!
Add George Soros & Clintons!!
American
February 13, 2023 at 12:18 pm
This should be the law for our entire country. Only U.S. Citizens should be allowed to purchase real estate.
Leslie
February 13, 2023 at 3:23 pm
Then do something about Bill Gates! He has been buying up American farmland for China!
He buys the real estate then just turns it over to China, getting around any laws!
Where are our firing squads for these anti Americans?
David C Smeak
February 13, 2023 at 2:04 pm
I congratulate Governor Abbott for this- I’ve never understood why we would let people other than citizens to buy our land. Land that is already owned by the Chinese, Russians, etc should be revoked as well. The amount that was paid originally could be credited back to these people to make it fair.
David Dutra
February 13, 2023 at 2:20 pm
ALLOWING CHINA AND RUSSIA (IN PARTICULAR) TO BUY LAND HERE AFTER ALL IF THE TIMES THEY HAVE BEEN CAUGHT SPYING AND STEALING TECHNICAL DATA FROM US WAS A IDIOT THING TO DO TO BEGIN WITH ! ! !
CPO Bill
February 13, 2023 at 4:22 pm
I’m all for it! EFF the chinks!