The governor of Texas, Greg Abbott, has signed legislation today banning sanctuary cities in Texas. He streamed the bill signing on Facebook Live.
Per the governor’s office, signing this legislation was among Abbott’s “emergency legislative priorities.”
The governor’s office has declared that officials who do not comply with the law could face the following penalties:
- A civil penalty for entities in violation of the law of up to $25,500 for each day of the violation
- A class A misdemeanor for a sheriff, chief of police, or constable who fails to comply with federal immigration detainer requests
- Removal from office for any elected or appointed official who does not comply with the law
Since Trump was elected President, a wave of anti-immigrant policy and sentiment has swept across parts of the country. Anti-Muslim groups have tripled since the election, while hate crimes are up 20%. As ICE raids – including the deportation of DREAMers whom Trump had promised would not be deportation targets – paralyze immigrant families who have lived in the United States nearly their entire lives, the Texas governor has now aligned itself with Trump’s draconian agenda.
Beyond that, he has placed himself firmly on the wrong side of history.
What do you think?
