The City of San Antonio today announced plans to join a lawsuit filed by the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund, challenging SB4, that controversial 'Anti Sanctuary City' bill signed last month by Gov. Abbott, News Radio 1200 WOAI reports.
The lawsuit will ask that the bill be declared illegal racial profiling, and order it to be blocked.
"Our city will take a stand against the fearmongering, discrimination, and hate coming down from down from Austin," Jessica Azua, an organizer from the Texas Organizing Project told a rally in support of the lawsuit.
"City leaders are standing for justice and love and we are sending a clear message...no hate in our state!" she said.The law criminalizes not cooperating with federal immigration officials, and calls for jail time for sheriffs, mayors, police chiefs, and other officials who don't honor Immigration and Customs Service 'detainers.'
It also authorizes police to check the immigration status of individuals they have detained, prompting opponents to call it a 'show me your papers' law.
Mayor Taylor said she does not approve the Council's decision:
"I believe it was premature for the majority of City Council to give direction for city staff to join in a lawsuit against the SB4 legislation. In this case, the prudent course would be to wait until a decision has been made on whether a special session will be called. Additionally, I believe that any decision to join this lawsuit should be made in coordination with other major Texas cities, which is why I have consulted with Mayors Adler (Austin), Turner (Houston) and Rawlings (Dallas). We should be certain that litigation is the measure of last resort and that the city is bearing its fair share of any legal burden. None of these conditions have been satisfied, which is why I continue to oppose City Council's decision to join this lawsuit," the Mayor said in a statement to 1200 WOAI news.
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