Dallas Becomes Latest City To Sue Over Anti-Immigrant Senate Bill 4

DALLAS, TX — Dallas on Wednesday became the latest city to legally challenge Senate Bill 4, the state's new anti-immigration measure recently signed into law by Gov. Greg Abbott.

"The bill is unconstitutional and would infringe upon the city's ability to protect public safety," Mayor Mike Rawlings wrote on his official Facebook page on Wednesday.

Rawlings said the city of Dallas would join the efforts of other Texas jurisdictions filing legal challenges to SB4 in the days following the governor's signing of the law: "My city council colleagues and I understand the serious constitutional concerns with SB4. On the advice of the city attorney’s office, we will work with other cities throughout the state to challenge this bill in court."

Without fanfare or political pageantry often associated with the signing of sweeping legislation, Abbott in early May chose the improbable venue of Facebook Live to sign SB4 into law on a Sunday evening. The measure enables police officers to question people about their citizenship status during encounters with the public, outlines a schedule of hefty fines for law enforcement officials deemed as not being fully cooperative with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in detaining the undocumented and calls for jail time among sheriffs and police chiefs perceived as too relaxed in their work as de facto immigration agents.

The day after Abbott's signing, Attorney General Ken Paxton engaged in another improbability: A preemptive lawsuit of sorts seeking to prevent cities from suing over SB4 as he asked a federal court to declare the new law as constitutional.

That latter ploy didn't work as a deterrent. Austin, San Antonio, El Cenizo (in Webb County), along with the counties of Maverick and El Paso have already filed legal challenges against SB4. The American Civil Liberties Union also has gotten into the act, asking a federal district court in San Antonio to fast-track ruling on the law's constitutionality even while issuing for a travel ban to would-be visitors to Texas in light of the new law. Also filing a legal challenge is the Texas Civil Rights Project.

Related stories:

Texas Governor Signs Far-Reaching Anti-Immigration Law On Facebook Live

Texas Attorney General Files Suit To Deter Sanctuary Cities Law Legal Challenges

ACLU Issues Travel Advisory Against Texas In Wake Of Anti-Immigrant Law Passage

Texas Civil Rights Project Sues To Prevent Anti-Immigrant SB4 From Taking Effect

>>> Image via Shutterstock