The Texas Senate approved a bill Wednesday that would cut funding from local and state jurisdictions that decide not to cooperate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials. But before that, Sen. Charles Perry (R-Lubbock), who authored the bill, amended it to make it a criminal offense to defy the so-called “sanctuary cities” bill.
We spoke to KUT reporter Audrey McGlinchy about her story on the amendment.
The bill would now make it a Class A misdemeanor for local law enforcement to adopt a policy that restricts officers from asking about immigration status.
“This also creates an avenue for the state to remove this person from office because [it’s] already in the local government code,” McGlinchy says. “It allows for that when an elected official is convicted of a misdemeanor or felony.”
In spite of this, Travis County Sheriff Sally Hernandez shows no sign of backing down from her statement that she would refuse to fully cooperate with immigration officials.
What you’ll hear in this segment:
– The effects of the criminalization clause of “sanctuary cities” bill
– Who would be exempted from having to ask about immigration status?
– The next steps in getting this bill passed
Written by Morgan O’Hanlon.
