Texas Senate passes Sanctuary Cities Bill in special session
June 16, 2011
By Jimmy Ardis
AUSTIN, Texas:During a meeting of the special legislative session yesterday morning, the Texas State Senate approved the controversial Sanctuary Cities Bill that it previously turned down. The measure proposes to prevent cities from banning police officers from asking detained persons about their immigration status. Democrats who oppose the bill were unable to prevent it's passing in the special session because special session rules only require a majority vote, as opposed to the two thirds requirement during regular session. The measure is a high priority for Governor Rick Perry and was thus added to the special session agenda, which only the governor can do.[1]
Opponents of the bill fear racial profiling may occur and that innocent crime victims will not seek help when needed. In an earlier hearings a woman tearfully testified that she would not have been able to place her abuser in jail had the law been in effect. Democratic Senator Wendy Davis points out that the language of the bill leaves room for ambiguity and this could cause an unlawfully detained individual to be deported before it is realized that the arrest was not legit. Law enforcement officials have even protested that the law doesn't provide the funding needed to back such a law.[2] '
Despite the controversy and opposition, both houses are dominated by Republicans who seek to crack down on illegal immigration. The bill is now on the way to the House, which previously approved the measure in the regular session.
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