Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick is doubling down on his claims that 'Sanctuary policies' embraced by the City of San Antonio and other Texas communities share some of the blame for the deaths of ten immigrants in a sweltering tractor trailer on Sunday, News Radio 1200 WOAI reports.
"Their policies are killing people," Patrick said. "Killing innocent Americans at the hands of the criminals, and killing good people who just want to come to America."
Patrick says when cities decline to enforce immigration laws, it sends a message to the smugglers that they will be able to ply their profitable trade in those communities.
"Our policies from the last administration, and, quite frankly, the Democratic policies of today, quite frankly enable the smugglers to feel free to place people in this horrible situation," he said.
Even though San Antonio was one of five Texas cities which filed the lawsuit last month designed to throw out the new state law banning 'Sanctuary Cities,' San Antonio says it is not a 'Sanctuary City' itself.
Police Chief William McManus says it is not the role of local police to enforce federal immigration law any more than it is the role of officers to ask people they stop for speeding to prove they have filed their federal income taxes.
"This most recent tragedy underscores the need for federal officials to craft and implement comprehensive immigration reform that will help address the factors that allow these crimes to occur. To continue to politicize this issue does a disservice to the victims of this tragedy and to the men and women of the SAPD who are committed to protecting all - regardless of their immigration status," McManus said.