Texas Governor Greg Abbott issued a fierce warning this week for squatters in the state.
"In Texas, anyone 'squatting' in your home is breaking the law," Abbott wrote in a post on X, formerly Twitter. "They are criminals violating TX laws like criminal trespass & criminal mischief (Tex. Penal Code 30.05 & 28.03)."
"Also, the Texas Castle Doctrine empowers Texans to use force to defend themselves & their property," he added.
Abbott's post comes amid the growing conversation surrounding squatters' rights compared to the rights of property owners throughout the United States. In recent weeks, several states have seen incidents involving homeowners' attempts to remove squatters from their property.
The American Apartment Owners Association defines a squatter as an individual who inhabits a piece of land or property despite having no legal authority to do so. A squatter lives in a building or on the property without paying rent and without lawful documentation stating they own the property.
Newsweek reached out to Abbott's office via email for comment.
On Monday, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said that squatting was a "local issue" and that it is "critical that local governments take action to address it."
She said: "My understanding is that [squatting] is obviously a local issue. We are certainly tracking that issue. The rights of property owners and renters must be protected, and we believe that ultimately, what needs to happen, is the local government needs to make sure that they address this and [that] they take action."
Neama Rahmani, the president of West Coast Trial Lawyers and a former federal prosecutor, told Newsweek on Monday that lawmakers around the nation need to increase penalties against squatters and expedite evictions.
"Laws that protect lawful tenants shouldn't be used to protect people that never had a legal right to be on the property in the first place. Squatters should be evicted then jailed if they break into a home and stay there because they provide a fake lease or other fraudulent documentation," Rahmani said.
In Florida, Governor Ron DeSantis announced new legislation to combat squatting in the state, including increased penalties against squatters and the ability for homeowners to request assistance from law enforcement in their removal efforts.
"We are putting an end to the squatters scam in Florida...While other states are siding with the squatters, we are protecting property owners and punishing criminals looking to game the system," DeSantis said.
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Matthew Impelli is a Newsweek staff writer based in New York. His focus is reporting social issues and crime. In ... Read more
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