Texas’ “sanctuary city” ban not popular with police chiefs

Gov. Greg Abbott is expected to sign the measure, known as Senate Bill 4, into law, over the emotional objections of Democratic legislators and opposition from a wide range of groups, including police organizations, who said it would break down trust between law enforcement and minority communities.

The bill allows the state to withhold funding from local governments for acting as sanctuary cities. Under Sheriff Sally Hernandez’s policy, enacted in February, Travis County officials honor ICE requests only if a person has been charged with murder, human trafficking or aggravated sexual assault.

Salazar said he is anxious about the further division the bill would create between undocumented immigrants and his deputies.

“We can not have multiple jurisdictions around this country or this state that pick and choose which laws they are looking at”, Perry said, according to the Dallas Morning News. More than 150 people signed up to testify for and against the convention plan during a House committee hearing last month.

And more Texas police chiefs are following suit, reported NBC News.

The Texas state senate voted on Wednesday to approve amendments made to the legislation by the Texas house of representatives, according to a website for the legislature. In an amendment added by the House, the bill would also allow law enforcement officers to ask about the immigration status of anybody they detain.

The bill takes effect on September 1. “I think it’s one of those bills that, true or untrue, creates a misconception, at least in this area, that police are going to be against some citizens”, said Republican Commissioner Andrew Haggerty. Attorney General Jeff Session vowed to appeal the ruling, saying the deportation of undocumented immigrants who committed crimes is within the national interest.

“I strongly believe that we should focus the efforts of police on stopping unsafe criminals in our neighborhoods and allow federal officials to focus on immigration”, Garcia said.

Maria Teresa Kumar, president and CEO of Voto Latino, predicted that the harsh sanctuary bill will ultimately backfire, as it did in California, where anti-immigrant ballot measures passed in the 1990s led to a “political awakening” for Latinos.

Many local governments say those detainers are unconstitutional, violating the Fourth Amendment.

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. “We will let the court systems figure this out”. Sylvia Garcia (D-Houston) told the Tribune.

“You come to us and you say you don’t want federal overreach, but that’s what happened”, Gutierrez said. “I know families that are preparing for the worst under your legislation”.

“There’s no reason why I would ask someone for their papers other than their skin color or the way they speak”, McManus said. He dismissed the concerns of racial profiling and harassment as “fearmongering”.

“I’m getting my signing pen warmed up”, he tweeted after Wednesday’s vote.