38 Civil Rights Groups Urge Texas Governor Abbott To Veto S.B. 4
WASHINGTON— Today, The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights and 37 national civil rights groups sent a letter to Texas Governor Gregg Abbott, urging him to veto S.B. 4. The legislation would drastically and unwisely expand the involvement of state and local law enforcement authorities in the enforcement of federal immigration laws, and raises profound legal, constitutional, and public policy concerns.
The letter states in part, “S.B. 4 will promote widespread racial profiling and outright discrimination against individuals who are perceived to be undocumented immigrants, even if they are legally present or are United States citizens. It will undermine community policing efforts by making immigrant and Latino residents afraid to report crimes or otherwise cooperate with police out of fear that they will themselves be targeted. The chiefs of police of several of Texas’ largest cities have voiced identical concerns that S.B. 4 as amended will make communities ‘more dangerous, not safer’ if enacted.”
“Immigration enforcement has been, and should be, the responsibility of the federal government,” said Wade Henderson, president and CEO of The Leadership Conference. “This legislation will create unnecessary distrust between law enforcement and the communities they are supposed to serve and protect. Similar efforts in other states also resulted in substantial economic losses as companies and individuals chose to take their business elsewhere. We urge Governor Abbott to veto this mean-spirited legislation.”
The letter to Governor Abbott is available here.
The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights is a coalition charged by its diverse membership of more than 200 national organizations to promote and protect the rights of all persons in the United States. The Leadership Conference works toward an America as good as its ideals. For more information on The Leadership Conference and its 200-plus member organizations, visit www.civilrights.org.