"The ACLU's goal is to protect all Texans and all people traveling through Texas - regardless of their immigration status - from illegal harassment by law enforcement", said Lorella Praeli, ACLU director of immigration policy and campaigns.
The renewed focus on "sanctuary cities" comes as President Donald Trump and Attorney General Jeff Sessions have vowed to strip funding from local governments that have policies that are created to limit cooperation with or involvement in federal immigration enforcement actions.
"I think when the Texas attorney general is suing you, you are doing something right, and I think that we have often said that Austin is a welcoming city, and we often said we disagree with SB 4 and its intent", Garza said.
When it comes to the controversial border wall and the President's tough stance on immigration, Patrick said "Trump is right", and that the border needs to be secured and "have a legal system for people to come here who want to be proud Americans".
On Sunday, Abbott signed a bill allowing police to question any suspect's immigration status, requires local officials to cooperate with ICE and fines municipalities up to $25,000 per day for noncompliance with the law.
The bill passed the Republican-controlled legislature last week amid the Trump administration's ongoing crackdown on sanctuary cities and campuses.
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She is now behind bars while on trial on 18 charges including bribery and corruption. And it could have implications for the United States.
The law, signed by governor Greg Abbot on May 7 while on Facebook Live, is the country's strictest ban on so-called sanctuary cities, where officials can decide to limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities.
Between 2008 and 2012, the ACLU said, Immigrations and Customs Enforcement requested local jails to hold 834 US citizens, including some who spent additional days in jail because of the error.
"Citizens expect law enforcement to enforce the law, and citizens deserve lawbreakers to face legal consequences", said Abbott.
They're concerned the law will have a chilling effect on people in the Hispanic community who may be reluctant to come forward and report crimes. In addition, this alert applies to all encounters with federal, state, county law enforcement including local police and sheriffs.
Texas, with the longest border with Mexico of any US state, has been at the forefront of the immigration debate.
"This law does not keep our community safe; in fact, it goes against public safety", Hernandez said.
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