Austin caught in state crosshairs over ‘sanctuary city’ status

“It put Travis County at the forefront of the national immigration debate and prompted the Governor to withhold almost $2 million in state grant money”.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has blocked the funding to “sanctuary cities” after Austin’s sheriff stopped complying with all federal immigration detainers. Hundreds of people signed up to voice their frustrations with Senate Bill 4, a bill that aims to eliminate sanctuary cities and sanctuary college campuses in Texas.

During the hearing, the author of the bill, Senator Charles Perry (R-Lubbock), told those gathered and watching on livestream that his bill was not a deportation bill.

Watch a live stream of the proceedings below.

Travis County was due to receive $1.5 million from the criminal justice division of Abbott’s office.

Perry’s bill would allow local police to enforce immigration laws, but only if the officer is working with a federal immigration officer or under an agreement between the local and federal agency.

President of the Hispanic Student Association at UNT, Aguayo said she has many undocumented family and friends who obey the law and pay taxes. On Friday, the Travis County Sheriff’s Office reported that 39 people had been released from the jail who had federal immigration detention requests declined under the new policy, according to the Austin American-Statesman.

In a hearing interrupted several times by demonstrators, a Texas legislative committee Thursday took the first steps toward requiring state and local police to fully cooperate with federal immigration authorities after making arrests. “We risk further endangering women and children who fall prey to violence and extortion such as human trafficking”, Senator Lucio said.

Although there are very few law enforcement agencies in Texas that have declined to assist immigration enforcement, Republican lawmakers have tried unsuccessfully to ban “sanctuary” policies in the state for years.

Abbott has voiced strong support for proposed legislation in Texas that would penalize sanctuary cities. And the effort follows President Donald Trump’s recent executive order cutting off federal funds to sanctuary cities.

“There’s nearly a culture of contempt for the federal law in this area”, Perry said. As Eckhardt has explained, the blocked funds affect agencies unrelated to law enforcement but created to help vulnerable communities. The bill does exempt witnesses and victims of crime from being held on ICE detainers and hospitals also don’t have to comply.

The attorney general … shall publish model policies limiting immigration enforcement to the fullest extent possible consistent with federal and state law at public schools, health facilities operated by the state or a political subdivision of the state, courthouses, and shelters, to ensure that they remain safe and accessible to all California residents, regardless of immigration status. She is their sheriff.

Two weeks ago state Sen.

Perry and the senators reiterated they support legal immigration into the USA and Perry added he supports “good sanctuary cities” or cities that chose to provide services for immigrants while still carrying out ICE detainers.