On essentially a party line vote, The Texas Senate last night ignored chanting opponents in the gallery, and approved what may be the strictest anti 'Sanctuary City' law anywhere in the country, News Radio 1200 WOAI reports.
The bill authorizes city police officers to inquire anybody who is 'detained' by officers, even children, about their immigration status.
It also calls for criminal penalties for police chiefs, sheriffs, and other officials who knowingly ignore 'detainers' from Immigration and Customs Enforcement, calling for the officials to get up to one year in jail and be removed from their jobs.
But Chief Sponsor Sen. Charles Perry said it is not a 'papers please' bill, as opponents have claimed.
"Nowhere in the bill does it instruct the officers to demand papers," Perry said. "Nowhere in this bill does it allow officers to stop a person solely to enforce federal immigration law."
But Perry said it is important for 'Hispanic Texans' to carry documents with their at all times.
"License, registration, insurance, and other documentation," he said. "Other identification that can be instantly verified in a database system."
The bill as approved by both the House and the Senate does not strip state money from jurisdictions which operate as 'sanctuaries,' as President Trump's now blocked executive order did.
This bill also punishes 'Sanctuary Colleges,' with similar penalties. It also was toughened to allow police to question the immigration status of somebody who is simply 'detained' by officers. The previous bill allowed interrogation only of somebody who had been 'arrested,' a major difference.
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said the passage means the measure is on its way to Gov. Abbott's desk for his signature.
"I have been working to end sanctuary cities in Texas since my days as a state senator. This legislation will eliminate a substantial incentive for illegal immigration and help make Texas communities safer," Patrick said. "In the past six years, criminal aliens have been charged with more than 566,000 crimes in Texas including kidnapping, homicide, burglary and much more. There is no excuse for endangering our communities by allowing criminal aliens who have committed a crime to go free. SB 4 will ensure that no liberal local official can flaunt the law."
Texas Democratic Party Chairman Gilberto Hinojosa blasted the bill as a 'show-me-your-papers' law.
“S.B. 4 has always been about Republicans politically profiting on the backs of Latinos, other people of color, and immigrant families," Hinojosa said. "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."
Several groups, including the City of San Antonio, have discussed suing to have the bill declared unconstitutional after Abbott signs it.