Local law enforcement unions weigh in on ‘anti-Sanctuary Cities’ law

Texas is less than two weeks away from implementing Senate Bill 4, also known as the “anti-sanctuary cities” law.

Senate Bill 4 prohibits municipalities from stopping peace officers from asking about a person’s immigration status — as long as that individual is lawfully detained.

The County and City of El Paso have both sued the state over the constitutionality of the law.

El Paso County Sheriff Richard Wiles has been an outspoken opponent of the law, but El Paso Police Chief Greg Allen has not commented publicly on the law.

“It breaks down the trust and respect that citizens have for county law enforcement,” Wiles said.

El Paso Police spokesman Enrique Carrillo gave ABC-7 this statement regarding the law:

“Whatever the law mandates, we’ll follow it. Our officers will receive training on all legislative updates, including Senate Bill 4. That training will be taking place here shortly.”

Opponents say the law could lead to racial profiling. Supporters say it is meant to keep criminals off the street.

ABC-7 reached out to the El Paso County Sheriff’s Officers Association to see if it was concerned over the implementation of the law on September 1.

“As far as we’re concerned, we’re going to continue to do our job. We don’t have an official stance on S.B. 4,” sheriff’s officers association president Robert Horstman said.

Ron Martin, the president of the El Paso Municipal Police Officers’ Association, tells ABC-7 there are some concerns about potential lawsuits officers could face.

“I can see civil litigation increasing against police officers for stopping somebody, and checking to see if they’re here legally or not legally,” Martin said.

Martin said the police department is short-staffed by at least 300 more officers. He said he sees that as the biggest threat to the city’s safety.

“We’re so short on the number of officers, we don’t have the officers to be checking people to see if they’re a resident or not,” Martin said. “That’s not our main function. Our main function is to fight crime, reduce crime here in El Paso.”

Click here to see ABC-7’s Special Report on Senate Bill 4.