SB 997, Garcia – Relating to peace officer enforcement of federal immigration law at places of worship, hospitals, public schools, and courthouses.
Sen. Sylvia Garcia
- SB 997 restricts state and local law enforcement from enforcing federal immigration actions in houses of worship, public schools, hospitals, and courts
- These are supposed to be safe institutions, parents should
- Supported by Sen. Garcia and 10 other Senators
Sen. Jose Rodriguez
- SB 997 is very important, immigration authorities should be kept out of areas with services, education, etc.
- SB 4, Sanctuary Cities Bill, exempts witnesses or victims of crime; considering this, odd that individuals could go to courthouses to seek domestic violence protective orders and be subject to immigration enforcement
- Has heard some wanting protections for immigrants, documented and undocumented, in the construction industry
Sen. Jose Menendez
- SB 997 is grounded in humanitarian, family, and Christian values; no one should be kept from picking their kids up from school or going to their place of worship
Veronica Escobar, County Judge, El Paso
- Transgender woman sought court protection against domestic violence and was apprehended by federal agents after her scheduled hearing
- Federal agents are targeting vulnerable populations and this has not happened in the memory of court staff
- Making immigrants afraid of seeking protection leads to a less safe community
- El Paso has met with DHS to ask for a full accounting, federal agents did not accurately report their arrest; indicates bad action on part of the federal agents
Pastor Tim Moore, Walk Worthy Baptist Church, Austin
- Local law enforcement are not adequately trained to handle these situations; will lead to increase of crime and insufficient policing
- Untrained law enforcement will open local communities to litigation
- Schools, hospitals, courthouse, and churches should be protected places
- SB 997 will lead to an increase of respect for law and a safer community
Ken Zarifis, President of Education Austin
- AISD has been ground-zero for ICE raids recently, has greatly disturbed the community
- Students are guaranteed an education, important that SB 997 protects schools
- Families should not be separated
Pastor Lyndon Rogers, Iglesia Cristiana Principe de Paz, Austin
- Recent policy harms the community, SB 997 important to protect the community
Questions
- Does this protect schools?
- Yes, protects all houses of worship, school courthouse
- Is this about SB 4
- Not a response to SB 4, more a response to national agenda that shifts daily
- Important to protect nationally recognized protected places