Texas Senate Revives Immigration Enforcement Bill

Texas state senators have revived a bill that would allow police to question people they detain about their citizenship status.
May 21, 2011

AUSTIN, Texas --

Texas state senators have revived a bill that would allow police to question people they detain about their citizenship status.

The so-called "sanctuary cities" bill would prohibit local governments and police agencies from adopting polices to ban their officers from asking detained people about their immigration status. The bill was the subject of angry debate before it passed the House.

The Senate Transportation and Homeland Security Committee had slowed down the bill earlier this week, but revived it Friday. The 5-3 vote broke along party lines, with all Republicans supporting the bill.

Some Senate Hispanic lawmakers have said they worry the bill would allow police to target Latinos and they consider it racially motivated.

Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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