WILLIAMSON COUNTY, Texas ( KXAN )— As the fate of Senate Bill 4 remains uncertain, the Williamson County sheriff says deputies will not enforce the law if it does go into effect.
SB4 would permit Texas serenity officials to detain those who are suspected of crossing the border illegally. The Lone Star State was given the power to carry out the rules last week by the US Supreme Court.
The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals granted a stay of the law days afterwards, allowing it to continue in effect as courts decide whether it is still valid.
Judge Mike Gleason stated that the Sheriff’s Association of Texas has a board of directors. He claimed that officers all over the state are developing their own interpretations of the legislation.
He claimed that the organization’s current position was that an arrest could only be made if the arresting officer saw a man crossing improperly.
” I have to view you cross the border illegally. So if I catch you up here on I- 35, 200 counties into the state and I did n’t witness you, I ca n’t even sign the warrant anyway”, Gleason said.
Last year, amid the up and forth in the authorities about SB4, the Sheriff’s Association of Texas sent a letter to Gov. Greg Abbott requesting “any legal methods” to stable the southern border.
Gleason, one of the sheriffs who signed the letter, said SB4 itself was n’t necessarily the subject of his endorsement.
He claimed that the name is in support of efforts to stop other crimes, such as drug and human trafficking, that enter Texas and pass along the Interstate 35 corridor.
” The letter put my stamp on the filing, which indicates our support for the government in halting illegal activities. Immigration is currently” the least of my problems right then,” Gleason said.
Immigration advocates are even anticipating this law’s implementation.
The Texas Immigration Law Council’s director of policy and legal services, Kristin Etter, claimed that the effects of the laws may have a chilling effect on counties that are not directly related to Mexico.
” These are not only border costs. These are nationwide rules that have nationwide application”, Etter said.
Etter said that due to the complex dynamics of immigration laws and issues, she worries about SB4 police as well.
” You’re going to include tens of thousands of peace officials attempting to enforce immigration rules, attempting to make membership decisions, with no real training, no familiarity”, Etter said.
Etter claimed that the most recent ruling regarding SB4 may be made in days or hours. She stated that the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals will hold oral arguments on SB4’s qualities on April 3.
