Thread: After debate, Texas Senate panel OKs 'sanctuary cities' bill

After debate, Texas Senate panel OKs 'sanctuary cities' bill

Comments about Hispanic legislators ripped

By PATRICIA KILDAY HART
AUSTIN BUREAU

June 13, 2011, 11:10PM

AUSTIN — From the testimony of a Houston police officer's widow to allegations of racism, a daylong legislative committee hearing Monday on a bill banning "sanctuary cities" brought the national immigration debate back to the Texas Capitol.

The Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Transportation on Monday approved a bill that would ban cities from prohibiting police officers from inquiring about the immigration status of a person they detain. Gov. Rick Perry last week added the proposal to the legislature's special session agenda. A similar bill failed during the regular legislative session.

The issue drew an overflow crowd of advocates and opponents of the measure, with both sides staging rallies in anticipation of the hearing. In a weekend rally in favor of the legislation, a leading proponent blamed the Legislature's inaction on the issue on the number of Hispanics who serve in the Legislature.

Perry 'does not agree'

"If you want to know why we can't pass legislation in Texas it's because we have 37, no 36 Hispanics in the Legislature. So, that's part of our problem and we need to change those numbers," said Rebecca Forest, a co-founder of Immigration Reform Coalition of Texas. "We need to do something about that in fact."

Her remarks drew condemnation from the state's top three elected officials, all of whom support the "sanctuary city" legislation as needed tool for law enforcement.

"The governor certainly does not agree with such misguided and unproductive comments. This is not about race or politics - it is about public safety. We must ensure our peace officers have the discretion they need to keep Texans safe," said Perry spokeswoman Catherine Frazier.

House Speaker Joe Straus, R-San Antonio, called Forest's statements "divisive and intolerant that have no place in our (Republican ) Party or in the Texas House of Representatives, where our Hispanic members bring a diverse and valuable perspective to the legislative process, just as our Hispanic citizens do in our state."

'Unfortunate' words

Democratic Party officials seized on Forest's remarks as evidence that the legislation is inspired by racism.

"While Ms. Forest's comments are incredibly offensive, it's about time a Republican was finally upfront about their Party's hateful attitude toward Hispanics," said Anthony Gutierrez, spokesman for the Texas Democratic Party.

George Rodriguez, president of the San Antonio Tea Party, said he attended the rally, heard Forest's comments and "corrected" her at the podium.

"That was an unfortunate choice of words," Rodriguez said Monday. "I completely disagree with that. The problem is not that we have too many Hispanic legislators. The problem is that we have Hispanic liberal legislators. What we need to do is find conservative Hispanics to run for office so we can have conservative Hispanics that can vote on these issues."

Law enforcement leaders and public officials across the state oppose the measure, which they say would sap the limited resources of local law enforcement personnel and trigger a lack of trust by Hispanics, who would be less likely to report crime.

HPD chief decries cost

"Texas is not Arizona. Our culture, history and economy are based on genuine and pragmatic goodwill toward all residents in our state," said Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff. "We don't need the negative attention that would come to our state with enactment of laws perceived as anti-Hispanic."

Houston Police Chief Charles McClelland Jr. estimated it would cost HPD more than $4 million to train 5,000 officers on immigration matters to comply with the legislation.

However, Houston police Sgt. Joslyn Johnson, whose husband was killed in 2006 by an illegal immigrant who had been deported in 2005, said the legislation could have prevented her husband's death. Officer Rodney Johnson was shot in the back of the head by a man he arrested after the man, in the backseat of the patrol car, pulled a pistol overlooked in a body search while the officer was writing a report in the front seat.

State Sen. Jose Rodriguez, D-El Paso, predicted passage of the legislation would lead to a backlash against Texas Republicans, much like the experience of California Republicans after passage of Proposition 187 denying social services to illegal immigrants.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/met ... 09073.html

"Houston Police Chief Charles McClelland Jr. estimated it would cost HPD more than $4 million to train 5,000 officers on immigration matters to comply with the legislation. "

So chief, here's 6 million--will you do it now??

Or are you supporting those whose dedication and loyalty is to their ethnicity and not to our country?

BTW The $million course.

Officers, remember, we are not here to profile. Simply, do your job and if the person you have stopped for an apparent violation happens to not be able to speak English or has no, or what appears to be , counterfeit identification. Call ICE, detain the suspect.

Please send the $4 million to my bank account.