Texas Lawmakers Advance 'Sanctuary Cities' Bill

AUSTIN, Texas -- The Texas Senate advanced a bill Tuesday evening that would effectively ban so-called sanctuary cities.

SB4, also known as the 'sanctuary cities' bill, would punish local police departments that don't fully cooperate with federal immigration requests to detain people suspected of being in the country illegally.

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The 20-11 vote was split along party lines. Democrats argued it would turn Texas law enforcement into a deportation force and hurt families. But Republicans say the bill simply enforces existing law.

The legislation, filed by Sen. Charles Perry, R-Lubbock, would revoke state grants from local police departments who don't honor all detainer requests from Immigration and Customs Enforcement. 

?Gov. Greg Abbott released the following statement in response to the vote:

“As Governor, I will not tolerate sanctuary city policies that put the citizens of Texas at risk. Elected officials do not get to pick and choose which laws they will obey. Today's action in the Senate helps ensure that Sheriffs and officials across Texas comply with federal immigration laws and honor Immigration and Custom Enforcement detainer requests that keep dangerous criminals off of our streets. I want to thank Senator Perry for his leadership on this issue and look forward to final passage in the Senate tomorrow.”