Texas legislators seek funding ban for 'sanctuary cities'
AUSTIN—Texas Republicans eager to reinforce President Donald Trump's call for a crackdown on illegal immigration pushed Thursday to deny state money for local jurisdictions that refuse to cooperate, an issue Gov. Greg Abbott has declared to be an "emergency" facing the state.
The Republican-controlled state Senate held its first hearing on a bill targeting so-called "sanctuary cities," a meeting that was disrupted several times by demonstrators singing songs or directing jeers at Abbott.
The GOP governor, who didn't attend the hearing, has also called for the power to remove from office any local elected officeholder who resists the federal government on immigration issues.
The term "sanctuary cities" has no legal definition. The bill by Sen. Charles Perry, R-Lubbock, would punish local governments if police don't comply with requests from federal immigration enforcement officers to hand over immigrants already in custody for possible deportation.
Read more: http://www.texarkanagazette.com/news/texas/story/2017/feb/03/texas-legislators-seek-funding-ban-sanctuary-cities/659924/