Since Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signed the so-called “sanctuary cities” bill into law, several Texas communities have signed onto a lawsuit in hopes of stopping the law before it goes into effect.
The suit was originally brought by Maverick County and the West Texas City of El Cenizo. But now, El Paso County and the cities of San Antonio, Austin and Dallas have also signed on to the suit.
Now,as The Texas Tribune reports,advocates for immigrant rights are encouraging other communities across Texas to join the fight. Meanwhile, the Trump Administration has brought the weight of the Justice Department to the aid of the defendants, Abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton.
The suit alleges that the SB4 legislation violates several provisions of the U.S. Constitution, including guarantees of free speech and equal protection. U.S. District Judge Orlando Garcia has scheduled an initial hearing on the case for June 26.