Cole Hefner, said the legislation would make Texas and the nation safer because "adversarial nations," as identified by the U.S. national intelligence director — China, Russia, Iran and North Korea — could not become Texas landowners.

Texas was the first state to offer in-state tuition to undocumented students in 2001, and 23 states currently have similar policies.

The Texas House gave approval Friday to a controversial bill that would restrict land purchases by people from certain foreign countries—drawing strong criticism from Democratic lawmakers, who compared the legislation to historical injustices like Japanese internment during World War II.