HB12 and the Troubling Trend of State Patches for our Immigration System

Just a few weeks ago, HB 12 or the "Sanctuary Cities Bill" passed through the Texas House and now awaits an upcoming Senate vote.  This pending legislation, lauded by Texas Governor, Rick Perry, would effectively promote Arizona SB 1070-like anti-immigrant sentiment in local policing.  If implemented, this bill would require police forces to check immigration status of ANYBODY that they arrest or detain.  This bill, along with other pending legislation on the table for the state of Texas, requires local law enforcement officials to carry out federal duties in immigration enforcement.

HB 12 is just one of many examples of state effort to patch our federally ignored immigration conundrum.  As immigration reform becomes further overdue, states are taking immigration law into their own hands in attempt to repair the system.  We saw this one year ago, with the very controversial passing of SB 1070 in Arizona, as other states have pushed for Arizona-like anti-immigrant legislation in the wake.  While Texas and various other states tighten the bolts a bit on our immigration system, we must look critically at some of these new bills being proposed.  Is this legislation legitimate, or are we dealing with blatant racism?

As I look through some of the various legislation on the table for the state of Texas dealing with immigration (various bills that mirror SB1070, abolishing of birthright citizenship, requiring public school students to show social security numbers, etc.), I cannot help but get angry at the direction our politicians have decided to go.  This is racism, and while politicians continue to try and remedy our failing system, things are getting worse.  While our country has always relied on the continuous flow of immigrants, our laws and policies have effectively stopped the flow.  We have created a permanent underclass that will continue to live in fear, as now we are putting practices of racial profiling into law.