Despite the fact that Texas’s racist “show me your papers” law isn’t scheduled to go into effect for another two weeks, local law enforcement say that the legislation—which turns local law enforcement into federal immigration agents by allowing them to ask the legal status of anyone they stop for any reason—“has already created damage” between Latino and immigrant communities and police in the state:
Many police officers worry that the law, known as Senate Bill 4, will break down trust among immigrant families, making them fearful about reporting crime — even when a family member is a victim.
“It has already hurt our trust,” said Grand Prairie Police Chief Steve Dye. “We already have a lot of fear out there because of Senate Bill 4. It has already created damage.”
Texas is already facing a lawsuit over the bill’s constitutionality from Houston, Austin, San Antonio and other localities, but in a state where nearly 40 percent of the population is Latino, residents are already living in a climate of fear.
[Dallas Police Sergeant Robert] Munoz said it’s frustrating when he hears that someone’s comadre, a good friend, says there’s a “round-up” at some intersection — and there isn’t.
The fear is that under the new law, any officer in a uniform can break down confidence and scare people away from calling the local police when there is a real problem, police officers say.
“We are just not going to stop anybody based on their skin or their color,” Munoz said. “Then we are falling into what? That racial profiling. We don’t need that. We have to have reasonable belief and probable cause.”
As advocates and local police have repeated from the start, SB4 will only make communities less safe, and make the job of local law enforcement harder to do by being forced to divert their resources into doing what’s supposed to be the job of the federal government. And, “police officers or sheriffs who are deemed to be uncooperative” with the law “could face misdemeanor charges and a fine,” according to America’s Voice.
America’s Voice: “Laws like SB 4 destroy the relationship between local law enforcement and immigrant communities. When there is trust in the police, immigrants are more likely to report crimes, serve as witnesses...when police become involved in deportations, immigrant trust in them, and willingness to work with them, disappears.”