Latino

Texas governor signs law banning sanctuary cities

by Brandon Carter - 05/07/17 8:17 PM ET

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) signed a controversial bill into law on Sunday that bans “sanctuary cities” and allows police officers to ask the immigration status of every individual they detain.

“Citizens expect law enforcement officers to enforce the law, and citizens deserve law breakers to face legal consequences,” Abbot said before signing the law. “Texans expect us to keep them safe, and that is exactly what we are going to do.”

The Texas bill, known as S.B. 4, will prohibit cities from declaring themselves sanctuary cities and refusing to cooperate with federal officials on immigration enforcement.

It also directs local law enforcement officials to enforce immigration laws alongside their regular duties.

{mosads}Police departments in Texas have been largely against the bill. The police chiefs of Houston and Dallas published an op-ed in the Dallas Morning News last week calling it a “burden” on local law enforcement agencies.

The bill has spurred massive protests in Texas, culminating in protestors holding a sit-in in Abbott’s office.

The local chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union tweeted that the law gives “Texas police a license to discriminate.”