Texas Legislature Approves Bill to Punish ‘Sanctuary Cities’

The Bill also would allow police to ask people about their immigration status during a lawful detention, even for minor infractions like jay-walking.

On Wednesday, the Senate approved a new bill that would give police and school administrators tools to go after cyberbullies.

Wu also noted that the bill would be a reminder to his sons “that the law will treat them with suspicion”. “Senate Bill 4 protects all Texans though uniform application of the law without prejudice”. “Once they were outside the building, though, officers cut the restraints off and left the protesters free to go with orders to show for upcoming court dates ‘” some of which have yet to be scheduled.

However, Attorney General Ken Paxton’s office has assured Republican legislators that the bill can withstand such a lawsuit. “I believe that we have a responsibility to act before we have any more children take their lives”, he said. Charles Perry of Lubbock, the bill’s author.

SB4 has been criticized by police chiefs in cities all over Texas, including current sanctuary cities Dallas, Houston, Austin, Arlington, Fort Worth, and San Antonio. In a piece for the Dallas News, David Pughes, interim chief of police for Dallas, and Art Acevedo, chief of police for Houston, argued that the legislation would cause distrust between citizens and law enforcement.

But Democrats and other opponents of the bill are livid over the measure, and have a laser-focused rage over the House amendment.

“It’s a possibility, but if that’s the case, I know that I’m doing it because it’s my moral obligation to resist unjust laws”, she said.

Although the bill includes provisions created to protect victims of crime and witnesses from being interrogated about their immigration status, Garcia said it will make immigrants distrustful of police and reluctant to report crimes.

Anai Ramirez, with the Hope Border Institute, said the community has a strong relationship with federal law enforcement in El Paso, and they’re optimistic it will stay that way.

The bill includes language that makes it a Class A misdemeanor, punishable by jail or a fine, for local law enforcement not to cooperate.

Democrats have fiercely opposed measures like this since the initial push to ban sanctuary cities first surfaced six years ago. Local officers still do not have authority to arrest a person by merely being unlawfully present. Many sheriffs and police chiefs in heavily Democratic areas warn that it would make their jobs harder if immigrant communities – including crime victims and witnesses – become afraid of the police. Other proposals would have created exceptions for homeless shelters and domestic violence centers, but Republicans rejected those amendments. They are issued by immigration officers.

Governor Abbott hasn’t signed the bill yet. The Texas Legislature has heard and responded to the voices of those they represent, and I applaud the efforts of the Texas House to pass this important resolution.