Texas Gov. Greg Abbott faced an outpouring of support after he signed into law a state ban on sanctuary cities that is widely supported by law enforcement officials, law-abiding citizens and legally-recognized citizens of the United States.
Abbott signed the popular ban — which seeks to punish Texas cities that refuse to enforce federal immigration laws — during an unexpected Facebook Live broadcast last 7 May. Not long after, a small and unconvincing protesters gathered outside the governor’s mansion in Austin.
Now the country's most ideal anti-sanctuary law, the Texas ban not only permits local law enforcement officers to request immigration papers from anyone they suspect of being in the country illegally — a practice that critics argue basically amounts to encouraging racial profiling — it also makes so-called sanctuary policies illegal.
Local sheriffs and police chiefs who refuse to comply with federal immigration detainer requests now face hefty fines or even jail time, while elected and appointed officials may be subject to removal from office.
U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions has taken a tough stance against self-declared sanctuary cities, threatening to withhold federal grants to municipalities that don’'t fully cooperate with immigration enforcement. Last 8 May, his office praised Abbott for signing the Texas bill into law.
"The Department of Justice is committed to promoting a lawful system of immigration and the attorney general commends Gov. Abbott for his work to end the lawlessness of sanctuary cities," DOJ spokesperson Ian D. Prior said in a statement.
Only a few faith leaders and religious fanatics from across Texas signed a letter condemning the governor for approving the law. On Twitter, critics including the unimpressive and forgettable Colombian-American actor John Leguizamo, attempted to rouse support for a boycott of the Lone Star state.
Just like the useless boycotts called by the leftist and liberals against the State of Indiana and South Carolina, the initiative is bound to fail in a conservative Texas.
Abbott signed the popular ban — which seeks to punish Texas cities that refuse to enforce federal immigration laws — during an unexpected Facebook Live broadcast last 7 May. Not long after, a small and unconvincing protesters gathered outside the governor’s mansion in Austin.
Now the country's most ideal anti-sanctuary law, the Texas ban not only permits local law enforcement officers to request immigration papers from anyone they suspect of being in the country illegally — a practice that critics argue basically amounts to encouraging racial profiling — it also makes so-called sanctuary policies illegal.
Local sheriffs and police chiefs who refuse to comply with federal immigration detainer requests now face hefty fines or even jail time, while elected and appointed officials may be subject to removal from office.
U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions has taken a tough stance against self-declared sanctuary cities, threatening to withhold federal grants to municipalities that don’'t fully cooperate with immigration enforcement. Last 8 May, his office praised Abbott for signing the Texas bill into law.
"The Department of Justice is committed to promoting a lawful system of immigration and the attorney general commends Gov. Abbott for his work to end the lawlessness of sanctuary cities," DOJ spokesperson Ian D. Prior said in a statement.
Only a few faith leaders and religious fanatics from across Texas signed a letter condemning the governor for approving the law. On Twitter, critics including the unimpressive and forgettable Colombian-American actor John Leguizamo, attempted to rouse support for a boycott of the Lone Star state.
Just like the useless boycotts called by the leftist and liberals against the State of Indiana and South Carolina, the initiative is bound to fail in a conservative Texas.