The battle between Gob. Greg Abbott and Travis County Sheriff Sally Hernandez is heading up, as Hernandez, who took office January 1, has vowed to 'decrease cooperation' with federal immigration authorities, in effect declaring a 'sanctuary' policy at the jail, News Radio 1200 WOAI reports.
"These Sheriffs offices receive grants from the Sheriff's office in the state of Texas, we are cutting off those grants," Abbott said.
Abbott is also asking the Legislature to pas a law allowing Hernandez, and other Sheriffs who refuse to cooperate with immigration officials, to be removed from office.
Hernandez says she is simply putting the interests of Travis County residents first.
“The public must be confident that local law enforcement is focused on local public safety, not on federal immigration enforcement,” Hernandez said in a video message released on Friday. Hernandez also echoed concerns that law enforcement has expressed statewide, that if they are seen by immigrants in the community as extensions of the Border Patrol, they will lose the cooperation of the community, as people will become unwilling to come forward as witnesses or victims, empowering street criminals.
Many local officials say asking people who, for example, are pulled over by police officers for speeding about their immigration status would be similar to local cops asking drivers who they pull over to prove they have paid their federal income taxes.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has endorsed Abbott's hard line toward local Sheriffs who attempt to implement sanctuary policies.
"Governor Abbot is a smart guy, former Supreme Court judge, former Attorney General," Paxton said. "He usually has pretty good ideas."
State Senator Jose Menendez (D-San Antonio) says the real victims of any denial of funding will be veterans who find themselves in polcie custody due to factors like PTSD.
"You know the sad thing is, the grant funding doesn't even go to jail enforcement," Menendez said. "It generally goes to special courts to treat veterans and mental health facilities."
And Menendez questioned the Republican officials who are constantly suing the federal government for 'overreach' into state affairs.
"How would the governor feel if the federal government were threatening to remove a state elected official if that person didn't agree with federal policy?" he asked.