A Texas Senate panel shrugged off 16 hours of sometimes tearful pleas and defiant opposition to approve a "sanctuary cities" proposal that would withhold grant funding from local jurisdictions that don't hand over immigrants already in custody for possible deportation. Similar measures have been backed by top Texas Republicans in previous years but never became law. "We have almost a culture of contempt for federal immigration law." Individual sheriffs and police chiefs — particularly in heavily Democratic areas — have long opposed enforcing federal immigration law, though some statewide law enforcement groups have endorsed the bill. Opponents of the measure say immigrant communities won't cooperate with law enforcement for fear of deportation if anti-sanctuary cities legislation is approved in Texas.

Source: ABC News February 03, 2017 13:07 UTC