San Antonio Police Chief William McManus told a State Senate committee today that the proposed law banning so called 'sanctuary cities' would handcuff his ability to manage the police department in the best way to fight crime in the city, News Radio 1200 WOAI reports.
"We simply do not have the capacity to handle immigration laws, as well as enforcing the terms of the penal code," McManus said.
He said the law would require that his officers do more work in identifying individuals who may be on the U.S. illegally, something they don't have the training to do, and something that would damage the critical relationships his officers have built up among the communities they are trying to protect.
State Sen. Jose Menendez (D-San Antonio) said new Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar, who is a former San Antonio Police Sergeant, has the same concerns.
"When policies exist to undermine the public trust between law enforcement and the immigrant community, we risk driving this segment of our population into the shadows, where they may even fail to report crimes for fear of negative consequences, such as the risk of being deported," Menendez said.
The law, which was declared an 'emergency' by Governor Abbott, would punish cities and counties which are 'sanctuary cities, and could lead to civil lawsuits against officials like McManus and Salazar if illegal immigrants released by their departments commit additional crimes.
McManus said San Antonio is not a Sanctuary City, and fully cooperates with immigration officials, and frequently participates in joint operations with immigration officers. But he says requiring his officers to become immigration agents would place the people of San Antonio in danger.Hundreds of people lined up outside the State Capitol hearing room to speak out on the law, and other loudly protested outside.
PHOTO' WOAI