Texas House Passes Anti-Sanctuary Jurisdictions Bill

Apr, 2017

Democrats have been caterwauling about Texas making this push for quite some time, throwing out the word racist, going on hunger strikes for a few short days, and just creating their normal mayhem as they attempt to defend law breakers and invaders. But, this is Texas

(The Texas Tribune) After more than 16 hours of debate, the Texas House of Representatives early Thursday morning tentatively gave a nod to the latest version of a Senate bill that would ban “sanctuary” jurisdictions in Texas.

The 93-54 vote fell along party lines and came after one of the slowest moving but most emotional legislative days at the state Capitol. (snip)

Members voted on the bill after adding back a controversial provision that extends the scope of the bill and allows local peace officers to question the immigration status of people they legally detain. The original House version of the bill only allowed officers to inquire about status during a lawful arrest. (snip)

The bill keeps a provision that makes sheriffs, constables and police chiefs subject to a Class A misdemeanor for failing to cooperate with federal authorities and honor requests from immigration agents to hold noncitizen inmates subject to removal. It also keeps civil penalties for entities in violation of the provision that begin at $1,000 for a first offense and swell to as high as $25,500 for each subsequent infraction.”

This is probably the strongest anti-sanctuary jurisdiction bill in the country. Many Republican controlled states are pushing ones which would strip some funding from cities and counties which protect illegal aliens. Some, like the one in North Carolina, will not be enacted, due to having a Democratic Party governor.

Before debate on actual policy started, Democrats tried their best to tug at Republican heartstrings in hopes of diluting what they labeled an “intentionally” racist proposal.

State Rep. Ana Hernandez, D-Houston, recounted through tears how she was undocumented for years after her visa expired when she was growing up.

She was followed by state Rep. Victoria Neave, D-Dallas, who’s been fasting in protest of the bill since she last attended church on Sunday. She said she’s received hate mail telling her to “die” and “starve.”

Get the Whaaaa-bulance. Why is it that Democrats are taking the sides of people who are here in violation of the law, and many who commit more violations of the law which often harm U.S. citizens and legal residents? Hernandez and Neave and the rest should resign, as they are failing to uphold their oaths of office to follow the law and Constitutions of the US and Texas.

Either way, Democrats said they intend to keep fighting. During his floor speech, the usually mild-mannered Rep. Eddie Lucio III, D-Brownsville, warned Republicans: “Do not mess with us today.”

They’ll keep fighting for law breakers. What’s in it for Democrats? That’s the question. And the answer is more voters. Think they actually care about illegals? Of course not.

The House version has a provision that forces college campus administrators to comply with the bill, which Democrats have argued could get college students deported for relatively minor offenses such as being a minor in possession of alcohol.

We shouldn’t have people unlawfully present in the United States attending college on the legal taxpayer’s money to start with.

The changes to the bill are enough that it will have to go to conference with the Texas Senate before going to Governor Abbott’s desk, where his is sure to sign it.

Crossed at Pirate’s Cove. Follow me on Twitter @WilliamTeach.