Texas Lawmakers Poised To Pass Bills Similar To Unconstitutional Arizona State Immigration Law
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Dotty Griffith, public education director, (512) 478-7300 x 106 or
(512) 923-1909; [email protected]
AUSTIN – The Board of Directors of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Texas has adopted a policy on immigration and civil rights affirming “the right of all persons to equal treatment and due process under the law.”
The unanimous vote by the civil rights organization’s policy-making body took place at the April 30, 2011, board meeting.
“Immigration law, policy and enforcement must be guided by the principles of equal protection and due process,” said Paul Asofsky, Chairman of the Board of Directors. “Texas residents are affected by extensive immigration control efforts which can lead to violations of civil liberties and constitutional rights, such as targeting individuals for unwarranted searches and seizures, police stops or surveillance solely because of their appearance or because they speak Spanish. Eroding the essential protections of the Fourth Amendment is not an answer to the immigration issues facing our state.”
On Friday, the Texas House will consider passage of HB 12, known as the “sanctuary cities” bill. This proposal would pave the way for routine local law enforcement checks on immigration status. Another piece of legislation, SB 9, would require proof of citizenship to obtain a Texas driver’s license. It has passed the Senate and awaits House approval.
“State leadership said we wouldn’t go the way of Arizona SB 1070 on this issue but these two proposals definitely take Texas in that direction,” said Executive Director Terri Burke. “If adopted, these copycats of Arizona’s infamous law will have severe economic consequences in Texas just as in Arizona and will subject Texas residents to a whole rash of civil liberties violations.”
By adopting a policy aimed at curbing civil rights abuses in the enforcement of immigration law, the ACLU of Texas joins six other state affiliates with similar policies – Arizona, Northern California, Southern California, Nevada, New Mexico, and San Diego, CA.
“The U.S. Constitution gives the federal government exclusive authority to enforce immigration law, with limited exceptions.” said Lisa Graybill, Legal Director of the ACLU of Texas. “States exceed their authority when trying to take this law into their own hands, and risk creating a patchwork system of different immigration laws which vary from state to state. This is as impractical and unworkable as it is unconstitutional.”
The policy, as adopted, “supports comprehensive reform of federal immigration law, as well as amending existing laws which prevent fundamental rights being extended to the undocumented, which has served to create an underclass which is forced to live in the shadows.”
For a copy of the policy, see www.aclutx.org.
