DALLAS (WBAP & KLIF News) — Despite Senate Bill 4 likely passing today and banning sanctuary cities statewide, Dallas County commissioners have passed a resolution making the county a “welcoming community.”
The resolution is not legally binding, but asks police not to enforce federal immigration policy, or “end nonessential collaborations” with Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Instead, it states that undocumented immigrants are just as valuable and deserve the same safety from police as documented citizens.
“Black, brown, Asian, LGBTQ, all of the marginalized communities – the resolution that was passed today shows just how much support we have from the county,” said Diana Ramirez of the Workers Defense Project.
Opponents of the resolution fear its passing means Dallas County could lose funding from the state and federal government — something Governor Greg Abbott has insisted will happen to those who go against Senate Bill 4.
The Texas Senate took the next step to ban sanctuary cities. With tough new penalties Dallas Co. & others will have to enforce the law. https://t.co/9ftBAv4vPL
— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) February 8, 2017
About a dozen support groups showed up to the Dallas County Commissioner’s Court yesterday, including Planned Parenthood, the Workers Defense Project, and Mothers Against Police Brutality.
“We believe that it is the duty of our cities and county and elected officials to stand for our rights,” said MAPB’s Sara Mokuria.
