Joe.My.God. LGBT News
The Texas Tribune reports:
The Texas Senate on Wednesday voted 20-11 to accept the House’s version of Senate bill 4, legislation that would ban “sanctuary” jurisdictions in Texas and allow police to inquire about the immigration status of people they lawfully detain. The bill now heads to Gov. Greg Abbott, who declared the legislation an “emergency item” in the early days of the legislative session, and is widely expected to sign it.
The legislation makes sheriffs, constables, police chiefs and other local leaders subject to a Class A misdemeanor if they don’t cooperate with federal authorities and honor requests from immigration agents to hold noncitizen inmates subject to deportation. It also provides civil penalties for entities in violation of the provision that begin at $1,000 for a first offense and climb to as high as $25,500 for each subsequent infraction.
But the final version also includes a controversial House amendment that allows police officers to question a person’s immigration status during a detainment, as opposed to being limited to a lawful arrest. Democrats and immigrant rights groups argue this makes the bill “show-me-your-papers”-type legislation that will allow police to inquire about a person’s immigration status during the most routine exchanges, including traffic stops.
The Texas Democratic Party reacts:
Putting millions of lives in danger, Dan Patrick’s Senate has signed off on the Republican “show-me-your-papers” bill approved last week by the Texas House, S.B.4.
Texas Democratic Party Chair Gilberto Hinojosa issued the following statement: “S.B. 4 has always been about Republicans politically profiting on the backs of Latinos, other people of color, and immigrant families. It’s a racial profiling bill, it’s dangerous, and it’s unconstitutional. S.B. 4 is the Trump Republican deportation force agenda, and now it’s a full-fledged ‘show-me-your-papers’ Arizona-style bill.
“Trump Republicans have ignored the desperate pleas of local law enforcement, faith leaders, businesses, Democrats, families, and even children. Texas Democrats will never stop fighting for everyone’s fair shot to get ahead. The battle has only begun, and the field will now turn to our cities and counties. Texans will never forget what the Republican Party has done to their families. We pray Gov. Greg Abbott searches his soul and changes course.”