Signed by Governor Greg Abbott

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill with an amendment that prohibits the adoption or enactment of sanctuary policies.

Highlights:

• Prohibits local governments or campus police departments from adopting, enforcing, or endorsing a policy or practice that prohibits or materially limits the enforcement of immigration laws (Sec. 1.01).

• Prohibits local governments or campus police departments from restricting a commissioned peace officer or district attorney from inquiring into the immigration status of a person lawfully detained or arrested (Sec. 1.01).

• Requires individuals who are holding an elective or appointive office that violate the provisions of this bill to forfeit their office (Sec. 1.01).

• Establishes a competitive grant program to provide financial assistance to local governments to offset any costs related to the enforcement of immigration laws and detainment efforts (Sec. 1.02).

• Specifies that any sheriff or chief of police who fails to comply with a federal immigration agent’s request to detain an inmate has committed a class A misdemeanor (Sec. 5.02).

• Specifies that local governments or campus police departments that intentionally violate a provision of this bill are subject to a civil penalty between $1,000 and $1,500 for the first violation or between $25,000 and $25,000 for each subsequent violation (Sec. 1.01).

Full Bill Text