Texas has a message for illegal immigrants (and their liberal friends): “Not in our state!”
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signed a “sanctuary cities” ban that protects police officers who ask suspects if they are in the U.S. illegally — and threatens Democrat-stronghold sheriffs with jail if they don’t cooperate with federal immigration agents.
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The new Texas law is the nation’s toughest stance on illegal immigrantion since Arizona’s crackdown in 2010. Liberals are furious at the new law, and are now vowing a court challenge in Texas.
The measure allows police to inquire about the immigration status of anyone they detain, a situation that can range from arrest for a crime to being stopped for a traffic violation.
It also requires police chiefs and sheriffs — under the threat of jail and removal of office — to comply with federal requests to hold criminal suspects for possible deportation. Republicans have a strong majority in the Legislature and shoved aside Democratic objections, even as President Donald Trump’s efforts to withhold federal funding for sanctuary cities have hit roadblocks in federal courts.
“Let’s face it, the reason why so many people come to America is because we are a nation of laws and Texas is doing its part to keep it that way,” Abbott said.
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The timing of the signing caught Democratic lawmakers slack jawed and unable to respond. Abbott signed the bill on a Facebook livestream with no advanced public warning. Violent leftist protests over the Texas bill have been intense for months and about 20 people were charged with criminal trespassing last week after staging a daylong sit-in at a state building where some of Abbott’s staff works.
Democratic state Rep. Cesar Blanco said it looked like Abbott “wanted to get ahead” of any violence surrounding the bill signing. Abbott spokesman John Wittman said they chose to sign the bill on a Facebook livestream because that’s “where most people are getting their news nowadays.”
The bill won’t take effect until Sept. 1. Terri Burke, executive director of the ACLU of Texas, said “we will fight this assault in the courts” and the ballot box.
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But conservatives aren’t worried. Abbott said key provisions of the bill had already been tested at the U.S. Supreme Court, which struck down several components of Arizona’s law but allowed the provision permitting police to ask about immigration status.
The Texas and Arizona bills are not identical. Whereas the Arizona law required police to try to determine the immigration status of people during routine stops, the Texas bill doesn’t instruct officers to ask. But it does protect Texas police who inquire whether a person is in the country legally, even if they’re not under arrest.
Texas doesn’t currently have any cities which have formally declared themselves sanctuaries for immigrants.
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But Sally Hernandez, the sheriff of Travis County, which includes liberal Austin, enraged conservatives by refusing to honor federal detainer requests if the suspects weren’t arrested for immigration offenses or serious crimes such as murder. Hernandez softened her policy after Abbott cut funding to the county, saying decisions would be made on a case-by-case basis. She has said she will conform to the state’s ban if it becomes law.
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The Associated Press contributed to this article