Now that President Trump's 'aggressive' immigration enforcement plan involves local police officers, several State Senate Democrats have introduced a bill that would prohibit any Texas licensed peace officer from participating in immigration raids or arrests at churches, schools, hospitals, and courthouses, News Radio 1200 WOAI reports.
State Sen. Sylvia Garcia (D-Houston) says people are trained to feel safe in those places, and they won't be able to concentrate on learning, healing, or worshipping if they are looking over their shoulder for Immigration officers.
"I think it would be a real severe breach of trust if we allow enforcement of immigration law in those institutions," Garcia told News Radio 1200 WOAI. "I just think it would be horrific."
The White House says it will immediately adopt a nationwide plan of finding, arresting, and deporting individuals who are in the country illegally who have committed additional crimes in the U.S., even if those crimes are things like traffic violations, or drunk driving.But the Administration stresses it has no plans for 'round ups,' and will not break up families.
Officials say it is doing nothing but enforcing a policy issued by former President Obama.
Garcia says her definition of schools and churches is very broadly based.
"Schools would include institutions of higher learning," she said. "Houses of worship would also include any church community centers."
Garcia concedes the bill has a slim chance of approve in a Republican dominated Legislature where immigration enforcement is a top priority among many members, and the governor has made abolition of so called 'Sanctuary Cities' to be an emergency priority.
The bill would not prohibit federal immigration enforcement in those places, the state has no authority to do that. It would simply prohibit local or state police, any officer who is a Texas licensed police officer, from participating in any immigration operations there.
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