AUSTIN -- Fort Worth Mayor Mike Moncrief has called on state lawmakers to reject a bill that would outlaw so-called sanctuary cities, saying it would slap Fort Worth and other Texas cities with an "unfunded mandate" to enforce federal immigration laws and would open the door to costly litigation against cities.
"On behalf of the citizens of Fort Worth and the Fort Worth City Council, I implore the legislature to reject HB12," Moncrief wrote in a letter released Friday by state Rep. Lon Burnam, D-Fort Worth.House Bill 12 is one of Gov. Rick Perry's top priorities. It is aimed at prohibiting cities from enacting policies that critics say would allow municipalities to become sanctuaries for illegal immigrants.The Republican-led House spent several hours debating the bill Friday before it was pulled from the House floor on a Democratic point-of-order motion and sent back to a committee for a quick fix.House members then turned to another controversial bill, plunging into debate about legislation that would allow larger classes in elementary schools and repeal minimum pay levels for teachers. Administrators say they need added flexibility to deal with state budget cuts, but the bill has come under fierce attack from teachers.Democrats, outnumbered in the House 101 to 49, turned to time-consuming points of order and an avalanche of amendments to try to smother the sanctuary city bill and other hot-button measures queued up behind the immigration proposal."When you're outnumbered 2-to-1, the only thing you've got going for you is the rules," Burnam said.The strategy is aimed at running out the clock ahead of a Thursday deadline for consideration of bills for the first time on the House floor. Hundreds of House bills could die if they don't make the deadline, although their sponsors could try to push them through as amendments to other legislation.With just over three weeks remaining before the Legislature's mandated adjournment, House members planned to work into the Mother's Day weekend with a session scheduled for today. Among the measures awaiting action today was another Perry priority that would force losers to bear most of the costs of litigation in lawsuits.Official oppositionHB12 would prohibit local governments from adopting rules that would keep their police officers from inquiring about a person's immigration status.The bill's author, Rep. Burt Solomons, R-Carrollton, said it differs from a controversial Arizona law because it does not require officers to ask about a person's citizenship, but gives them the option to do so.Local governments with policies that prohibit enforcement of state or federal immigration laws would be ineligible for state grant funds."This law will create a uniform statewide standard that will propagate safer streets and neighborhoods," Solomons said.But Hispanic groups and a number of Texas law enforcement officials have lined up against it.Police chiefs have said they will have to spend money to train officers in immigration enforcement and hire designated officers, which could cost millions of dollars. With prisons at capacity and cities laying off officers because they can't pay them, officers are already staggering under the load of local crime and community issues, they said.The debate Friday afternoon was heated as Democratic House leaders argued that approving the law will encourage racial profiling and could lead to American citizens being harassed because of their heritage."In this state we certainly have driving while black," said Rep. Rene Oliveira, D-Brownsville. "In this state, if this passes, we will have driving while Mexican."In a telephone news conference Thursday, Arlington Deputy Police Chief Jennifer White joined four other law enforcement officials in opposing the bill. She said HB12's requirements would further strain police department budgets and could make some Hispanics fearful about calling police."A victim may very well hesitate to call police for fear their citizenship will be questioned," White said.Also participating in the news conference were officials from Dallas, El Paso and Bexar counties, and the city of McAllen.In his letter, Moncrief wrote, "It is the local police agencies' responsibility to protect and serve all individuals regardless of immigration status."Staff writer Anna Tinsley contributed to this report, which includes material from The Associated Press.Dave Montgomery is the Star-Telegram's Austin bureau chief. 512-476-4294
Casinos taken out of gambling bill in Texas House
PoliTex blog: From North Texas to D.C., our insiders take you beyond the usual rhetoric 
Have more to add? News tip? Tell us
