Texas takes on 'sanctuary cities'

austin - Police officers in the United States of America, Texas, who refuse to cooperate with the federal immigration service, may eventually enter the cell. Governor Greg Abbott of the state gave green light on Sunday (local time) for a measure that allowed this.

'As a governor, I have public security as my top priority,' said Republican Abbott. 'This law brings that goal closer by keeping dangerous criminals of our streets. 'In Texas, adjacent to Mexico, an estimated 1.5 million illegal immigrants live.

The measure is directed against local authorities in so-called 'sanctuary cities'. They can not prevent their police forces according to The Dallas Morning News from cooperating in dealing with illegal immigrants.

Police officers who interfere with this can be sanctioned from 1 September with a fine, dismissal or a one-year custody sentence. Elected or appointed officials also risk sanctions if they violate the new law. They can be deployed.

Police chiefs of major cities in the state have protested in vain against the measure. They fear that migrants will avoid the police if they become victims of a crime or refuse to cooperate in investigations.

Proponents of the measure would just like to prevent criminal illegal immigrants to walk freely because the authorities are keeping an eye on them. President Donald Trump tried to shorten financially short-term governments in sanctuary cities, but caught a blow to court. The Texan law is also likely to be legally challenged.