By Morgan Montalvo
WOAI News
Local advocates for people in the U.S. illegally last night met to brainstorm ways to oppose Senate Bill 4, the measure signed into law by Gov. Greg Abbott that will allow peace officers to determine an individual's citizenship or immigration status when detained or arrested.
SB 4 goes into effect Sept. 1, but already has drawn the ire of supporters of illegal immigration, including local "resisters" who, at Wednesday evening's town hall at the Esperanza Peace and Justice Center, say they will "resist" the measure.
Self-described community organizer Barbie Hurtado with the group RAICES, says "resistance" will include identifying which local leaders support or oppose SB 4, and calling on area homes and businesses to serve as small-scale sanctuaries for immigration lawbreakers.
Hurtado says anti-SB 4 efforts also will include teaching home- and business owners how to delay arrest and deportation efforts by federal law enforcement officers.
Once in effect, SB 4 will allow for determination of a suspect's immigration status or citizenship if there is probable cause for detention or arrest, but will not give peace officers the freedom to arbitrarily ask for proof of someone's being in the U.S. legally. The law also specifies penalties for municipal governments that resist or do not cooperate with federal immigration requests or investigations.
Opponents of the legislation refer to it as the "Papers, Please Law."
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