Senate Panel Advances Sanctuary Cities Bill

Texas Tribune – Julián Aguilar

A bill banning so-called “sanctuary cities” in Texas – the common term for local entities that do not enforce immigration laws — advanced out of a Senate subcommittee on Monday.

Senate Bill 185 by state Sen. Charles Perry, R-Lubbock, would cut off state funding for local governments or governmental entities that adopt policies that forbid peace officers from inquiring into the immigration status of a person detained or arrested.

Some Texas cities have taken the position that such enforcement is the federal government’s job, not theirs — which Perry patently disagrees with. “Rule of law is important and we must ensure that local governments do not pick and choose the laws that they choose to enforce,” Perry told the subcommittee.

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