BREAKING: El Paso County to seek litigation against Texas over so-called anti-sanctuary cities law

County Commissioners Monday voted to hire a law firm as the county seeks litigation against the State of Texas over the newly-passed Senate Bill 4.

The court voted 4-1, with Commissioner Andrew Haggerty the lone vote against.

Before the vote, dozens of demonstrators took to the County Courthouse to protest Senate Bill 4, the so-called anti-sanctuary cities bill signed into law by Gov. Greg Abbott.

The bill lets peace officers ask, during routine stops, whether someone is in the U.S. legally and threatens sheriffs with jail if they don’t cooperate with federal immigration agents.

It also requires police chiefs and sheriffs – under the threat of jail and removal from office – to comply with federal requests to hold criminal suspects for possible deportation. That’s something the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office already complies with.

County Judge Veronica Escobar said the law will make our community less safe because undocumented immigrants will not report crimes due to the fear of being asked about their immigration status.

“No SB 4!” Chants break out after the County Commissioners vote. @abc7breaking pic.twitter.com/Ny2Mwl9Kxt

— Mauricio Casillas (@MauricioABC7) May 15, 2017

Monday’s protest at the courthouse was organized by the Border Network for Human Rights. The group’s executive director also said the law will discourage members of the undocumented community to speak out against crime. The law allows peace officers to inquire about a person’s legal status if they are detained.

The El Paso County Sheriff’s Office has opposed the law and El Paso Mayor Oscar Leeser denounced it.