Judge blocks Texas law on sanctuary cities

A federal judge halted enforcement of a controversial Texas immigration law Wednesday, two days before it would go into effect. U.S. District Judge Orlando Garcia issued a preliminary injunction against Senate Bill 4, which sought to clamp down on “sanctuary cities,” or jurisdictions that do not enforce federal immigration laws. The law was a key legislative priority for Republican Gov. Greg Abbott and praised by the Trump administration. It would have given police officers authority to ask persons during a routine stop whether they were in the country legally, and it threatened local sheriffs with jail time for not turning over immigration violators to federal authorities. The law’s opponents claim it violates the Fourth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. Garcia said in a 94-page ruling the law would erode public trust and ultimately make many communities and neighborhoods less safe. Abbott, who signed the bill into law in May, said he would immediately appeal the ruling. “Today’s decision makes Texas’ communities less safe,” Abbott said. “Because of this ruling, gang members and dangerous criminals, like those who have been released by the Travis County sheriff, will be set free to prey upon our communities.”