Texas' Ban on 'Sanctuary Cities' Can Begin, Appeals Court Say

"A federal appeals court ruled on Tuesday that Texas’ ban on so-called sanctuary cities can take effect while legal challenges proceed, concluding that opponents of the measure were not likely to succeed on the merits of their case.

In a unanimous ruling, a three-judge panel of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit almost completely reversed an August ruling by a federal judge in San Antonio, who had temporarily blocked Texas officials from enforcing the ban.

The law in question — Senate Bill 4, passed by the Texas Legislature in May 2017 — requires police chiefs and sheriffs to cooperate with federal immigration officials, and allows the police to question the immigration status of anyone they arrest. It was passed in response to the proliferation of sanctuary cities, which restrict such cooperation and have gained national attention as President Trump pursues stricter immigration policies..."

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