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Texas State Representative Victoria Neave and dozens of other supporters are nearing the end of a four-day fast in protest of an anti-immigrant bill scheduled for debate in the Texas legislature this Wednesday that would ban all jurisdictions in the state from enacting pro-immigrant, sanctuary city policies. Rep. Neave, a first-term Democrat, is an immigrant daughter and understands first-hand the danger this anti-immigrant legislation poses to public safety and families:
The bill would ban cities, counties and universities from preventing local law enforcement agencies from asking about a person’s immigration status or enforcing immigration law.
The Texas Senate has approved the legislation, and those against the bill are outnumbered in the House, Neave said. After years of attempts, Texas Republicans are closer than ever to passing such a bill, which they say would create consistency among law enforcement agencies and would prevent jailed undocumented immigrants from being released.
But many Democrats and immigrant rights advocates fear the measure would lead to racial profiling, incite fear and create a chilling effect in immigrant communities.
Numerous studies have shown that sanctuary city policies actually make communities safer, due to increased trust between local law enforcement agencies and undocumented immigrant residents. So in reality, it’s actually Abbott who is creating the “emergency” here by barging into how localities decide to govern themselves. These guys sure love their “small government conservatism,” unless it somehow helps immigrants, of course.
Rep. Neave told the Dallas Morning News that fear is already heightened in immigrant communities, regardless of their immigration status, with more than 1,000 residents recently packing a high school cafeteria for an immigration forum.
Rep. Neave hopes the fast, inspired by the nonviolent protests of civil rights icons like Cesar Chavez, can call attention to hateful policies like Senate Bill 4 and the damage they can cause:
Teachers have come to her office and shared that their elementary school students are afraid about “what’s going to happen if they’re parents are deported.”
“I could see the fear in their eyes,” Neave said.
Earlier this month, Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo revealed data showing that the number of Latinos reporting rape is down nearly 43 percent from last year due to deportation fears. So if it’s community safety that Republicans really do value, passing SB4 certainly is not the way to go.
“We don’t have enough votes to defeat this bill,” Rep. Neave said, who began her fast after receiving communion during Mass on Sunday. “My fear is that it will pass, but I am fasting and praying and hoping the hearts of other lawmakers will be softened to vote against this bill as well.”