People in TX have been taking advantage of a obscure law called adverse possion, which gives squatters the right to purchase the house they have been staying it for $16. There are a lot of empty bank owned homes that are potential targets. Sheriffs and their deputies have increased efforts to roust these low lifes and arrest them for trespassing (and anything else they can stick them with.
Wow. Can you give more information about that?
I'm not a lawyer, but I do have experience with adverse possession law in another state (not TX).
Adverse possession requires use and possession of the property for a long time, ranging from 5 yrs - 25+ yrs depending on the state.
Additionally state laws that I'm aware of have other conditions that must be met, before title to property can be transferred under adverse possession doctrine. I.e. you cannot get a "right" to the property simply by squatting for a few weeks or months. You also get no right to it if you're paying rent and/or have permission of the owner.