As the federal government and the cities wrestle over the concept of the 'Sanctuary City,' the Texas House today opens debate on a Senate passed bill to crack down on Sanctuary Cities in Texas, News Radio 1200 WOAI reports.
Approving measures that punish cities and counties which don't fully cooperate with immigration officials is a priority of Gov. Abbott in the current session, witht he governor stressing that 'no local official' has the right to violate the law.
But Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar says being seen in the community as an extension of immigration authorities is not good local law enforcement, and in some cases could allow dangerous people to go free.
"We felt it was going to alienate victims and witnesses to a point where they wouldn't want to cooperate with law enforcement," he said.
The Texas law was sparked largely by the actions of the new Travis County Sheriff, who announced she would not respect 'detainer' requests from Immigration officers.
A 'detainer' is when immigration authorities ask that an individual who is set to be released from a local jail be held so they can be picked up and processed for potential deportation
In addition to requiring that local officials honor detainer requests, the Texas law would also hold sheriffs, city admiisitrators, and others criminally and civilally liable for not fully complying with immigration officials, allowing them to be charged, jailed and removed from office, as well as sued in civil court by relatives of individuals who are harmed by illegal immigrants they let out of jail.
Salazar says the House has made major changes in the bill that would limit the liabilities and responsibilities of local law enforcement, something he hopes allows the bill to be less punitive.
He also says the law as it was passed by the Senate would also harm rural counties, and he points out that small town and rural law enforcement agencies frequently don't have the resources to follow federal instructions while attempting to keep their own citizens safe.
The threat by Abbott to withhold funding to local municipalities which are 'Sanctuaries' for illegal immigrants is expected to be legally stronger than President Trump's threat, which was blocked by a federal judge in Tuesday.
Trump acted alone, while any withholding of funds in Texas would have the approval of the Legislature, which appropriates funding. Also, many law enforcement grants which would be withheld from local officials are part of the governor's office, and are within the authority of the governor to withhold or award anyway.
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