Attorney General adds El Paso County, sheriff to 'anti-sanctuary cities' lawsuit
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has added El Paso County and Sheriff Richard Wiles to a lawsuit that aims to head off legal challenges to the state's ban on so-called sanctuary cities.
In court documents filed Wednesday, the attorney general claims that El Paso County maintains policies and practices that refuse to comply with federal immigration officials. He adds that the county will continue those policies and practices despite the passage of Senate Bill 4 into law.
El Paso is one of several municipalities that have filed lawsuits against the state challenging the constitutionality of the law, which would punish local governments and universities that prevent law enforcement officers from asking people they detain about their immigration status.
The law, which is slated to take effect Sept. 1, also creates a criminal charge for police chiefs, county sheriffs and constables who do not comply with the ban and would fine local jurisdictions up to $25,000 a day for each violation.
Read more: http://www.elpasotimes.com/story/news/politics/2017/06/03/paxton-sanctuary-cities-ban-el-paso/367568001/
