NEW ORLEANS (WBAP/KLIF News) – A unanimous decision by the United States Court of Appeals on Monday will allow Texas to enforce the core of the sanctuary cities law while the state appeals a lower court ruling that blocked the law from taking effect.
The Texas Attorney General’s Office’s Marc Rylander said the decision by the 5th United States Circuit Court of Appeals allows law enforcement to do their jobs.
“Senate Bill 4 affirms the right and duty of law enforcement agencies throughout Texas to detain individuals pursuant to the U.S. ICE Federal Detainer Program,” he said.
Rylander said it also keeps the community safer.
“We believe that enforcing immigration law helps prevent dangerous criminals from being released into Texas communities,” he said.
The Detainer Program, one of the main parts of the law, requires Texas police and sheriffs to honor requests from federal immigration agents to hold people who are suspected of being in the country illegally and are in jail for reasons other than immigration.
The law also threatens police chief and sheriffs with jail time if they don’t comply.
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