It appears the Texas Legislature will deal with the contentious issue of illegal immigration head on when it meets in January, 1200 WOAI news reports.

  Two conservative lawmakers, State Rep. Frank Corte (R-San Antonio) and State Senator Dan Patrick (R-Houston), have asked Attorney General Greg Abbott for opinions on the legality of several tough measures designed to fight illegal immigration.

  One would allow the state to pull the business licenses of companies which hire illegals.  Another would ban cities from having so called 'Sanctuary City' laws on the books.

  Both Houston and Austin have 'Sanctuary" laws in place, which forbid local police from inquiring about a suspect, victim, or witnesses immigration status.  Supporters of "Sanctuary Laws" say if witnesses and victims are afraid of being deported, they won't come forward, and crime will go unpunished.

  Illegal immigration laws were introduced in the 2007 session, including measures which would require that landlords not rent apartments to illegals.  But they all failed, after Abbott ruled the measures would violate federal law, or the U.S. Constitution.

  In their letter to the Attorney General requesting the opinion, Corte and Patrick cite a law in Oklahoma which forbids "Sanctuary Cities" there.