{"data":{"id":"us-tx/tex.-penal-code-51.03","jurisdiction":"us-tx","citation":"Tex. Penal Code § 51.03","heading":"ILLEGAL REENTRY BY CERTAIN ALIENS.","body":"(a) A person who is an alien commits an offense if the person enters, attempts to enter, or is at any time found in this state after the person:\n(1) has been denied admission to or excluded, deported, or removed from the United States; or\n(2) has departed from the United States while an order of exclusion, deportation, or removal is outstanding.\n(b) An offense under this section is a Class A misdemeanor, except that the offense is:\n(1) a felony of the third degree if:\n(A) the defendant's removal was subsequent to a conviction for commission of two or more misdemeanors involving drugs, crimes against a person, or both;\n(B) the defendant was excluded pursuant to 8 U.S.C. Section 1225(c) because the defendant was excludable under 8 U.S.C. Section 1182(a)(3)(B);\n(C) the defendant was removed pursuant to the provisions of 8 U.S.C. Chapter 12, Subchapter V; or\n(D) the defendant was removed pursuant to 8 U.S.C. Section 1231(a)(4)(B); or\n(2) a felony of the second degree if the defendant was removed subsequent to a conviction for the commission of a felony.\n(c) For purposes of this section, \"removal\" includes an order issued under Article 5B.002, Code of Criminal Procedure, or any other agreement in which an alien stipulates to removal pursuant to a criminal proceeding under either federal or state law.\nAdded by Acts 2023, 88th Leg., 4th C.S., Ch. 2 (S.B. 4), Sec. 2, eff. March 5, 2024.","path":["PENAL CODE","TITLE 10. OFFENSES AGAINST PUBLIC HEALTH, SAFETY, AND MORALS","CHAPTER 51. ILLEGAL ENTRY INTO THIS STATE"],"source_url":"https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/PE/htm/PE.51.htm#51.03","current_through":"89th 2nd Called Legislative Session, 2025","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-08-27T01:47:34Z","sha256":"2dd7d81b1b24031b607d0fa867dad875488a5eec87f5f56ea5685b20f1e973a1","source_id":"us-tx","stale":false,"prev":"us-tx/tex.-penal-code-51.02","next":"us-tx/tex.-penal-code-51.04"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}