by the National Political Committee, Texas DSA chapters, and the National Anti-Racism Working Group - Immigrants' Rights Committee.
On May 7, 2017,
the Texas Senate passed SB4, a bill that allows local law enforcement to check
the immigration status of people in most instances, such as routine traffic
stops. This "show me your papers" law will result in racial profiling
throughout Texas communities. These illegal arrests will increase tensions
between law enforcement and the communities they seek to protect and serve. SB4
will allow law enforcement to detain Texas residents lacking legal status until
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrives to take them to privatized
detention centers for processing.
All Texans will be
endangered when fear of law enforcement and their continuous collaboration with
ICE outweighs the need for help from those same government agencies when the
victim of a crime.
The American Civil
Liberties Union has recently issued a travel advisory for those planning to
visit Texas after September 1, 2017 when the law comes into effect, showing the
severe restrictions on civil liberties that this bill brings to not only Texas
residents, but to those visiting as well.
