Organizers say up to 50 organizations joined a rally this weekend outside the Texas Capitol to protest the implementation of Texas' immigration law. Senate Bill 4 was passed last year and signed by the governor.
The measure would create a state crime for crossing the border illegally. The first offense would be a misdemeanor punishable by up to six months in jail; additional offenses could be charged with a second-degree felony with a punishment of two to 20 years.
Last week, the U.S. Supreme Court temporarily blocked the law while justices decide whether to allow enforcement. The temporary stay continues until Wednesday.
Several hundred protestors held a rally outside the Texas Capitol.
"The creation of hate through this rhetoric is the same hate that came to El Paso on August 3, 2019 and did away with the lives of 23 people," El Paso County Commissioner David Stout said at the rally.
Stout said the state's effort to enforce immigration laws has made people less safe.
"It's made our communities less safe by allowing the Department of Public Safety to run amok in our streets, 500 high speed car chases last year," he said.
Other organizations at the rally said enforcement of the law would lead to more racial profiling, more chases and "more terrorization."
"It does not make our community safer nor does it offer any real solutions to our broken immigration system," said Edna Yang, co-executive director of the non-profit, American Gateways.
Last week marked three years since Governor Greg Abbott launched "Operation Lone Star," which uses the Texas National Guard and Department of Public Safety to stop people crossing the border illegally.
Since then, Abbott says they have made 503,800 apprehensions, made 40,400 criminal arrests, including 36,100 felony charges. Abbott says law enforcement has also seized 469 million lethal doses of fentanyl.
"President Biden’s State of the Union [Thursday] was nothing short of a dog and pony show to convince the American people that his Administration is keeping America safe and secure. Yesterday marked the three-year anniversary since I launched Operation Lone Star to defend our state—and our nation—from the historic influx of illegal immigration, criminals, and deadly drugs like fentanyl pouring across our southern border. Until President Biden steps up and does his job as Commander-in-Chief to secure the border, Texas will hold the line and use every tool and strategy to keep our country safe," Abbott wrote in a statement.
LISTEN on the Audacy App
Tell your Smart Speaker to "PLAY 1080 KRLD"
Sign Up to receive our KRLD Insider Newsletter for more news
Follow us on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube