America remains deeply divided on the immigration crisis. Across the nation, Democratic strongholds continue doubling down on their sanctuary policies, openly defying federal enforcement efforts. Many blue cities have instructed their police forces to avoid cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Meanwhile, the Trump administration has intensified immigration enforcement nationwide. The Department of Homeland Security has moved aggressively to identify, detain, and deport those in the country illegally. Isn’t it amazing how differently we approach law enforcement depending on who’s in charge?
This escalating standoff between federal authorities and sanctuary jurisdictions shows no signs of easing.
But in a significant break from other major metropolitan areas, Houston and San Antonio – Texas’ two largest cities – are now actively alerting ICE when encountering illegal immigrants with administrative warrants. This cooperation marks a stark contrast to the resistance shown in many Democratic-run cities across America.
The shift comes after ICE filed administrative warrants in the National Crime Information Center to arrest and deport approximately 700,000 illegal immigrants nationwide. This database integration allows local law enforcement to identify individuals with immigration violations during routine encounters.
In Houston, police officers are specifically directed to communicate with ICE whenever an illegal immigrant with an administrative warrant is detected. Officers then discuss options for transferring the individual to ICE custody, which may include holding them at the scene until federal agents arrive.
Now that’s how enforcement is supposed to work! While sanctuary cities scramble to hide illegal immigrants from federal authorities, Texas law enforcement is simply following the law as written.
San Antonio follows similar protocols. Officers there have been instructed to “contact the ICE Law Enforcement Service Center … and request an ICE officer come to the scene to arrest the individual,” according to an internal email obtained by local media.
On-the-Ground Enforcement
The Bexar County Sheriff’s Office, while not directly alerting ICE of illegal immigrant encounters, maintains regular cooperation with federal immigration authorities. Deputy Sheriff Johnny Garcia explained that ICE officials enter county jails to conduct interviews as frequently as “every three hours.”
The sheriff’s office also provides ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations officials with 48-hour notice before releasing illegal immigrants with immigration detainers from jail.
“We do what is required of us by the law,” Garcia stated plainly. That refreshing approach seems increasingly rare these days, doesn’t it?
The categories of illegal immigrants who may appear in the system include previously deported felons, aliens with prior deportation orders, and individuals with civil immigration detainer orders against them.
Upholding Law and Order
This cooperation stands in stark contrast to policies in numerous Democratic-run jurisdictions. In many of these leftwing areas, local officials have established barriers to working with federal immigration authorities.
An ICE spokesperson emphasized that administrative arrest warrants represent a “vital tool to protect public safety and reduce the amount of taxpayer resources needed to fund law enforcement at all levels of government.”
The federal agency further explained their enforcement approach.
“ICE is leveraging all available law enforcement resources to aggressively pursue these aliens to restore law and order in our communities and integrity to our nation’s immigration laws,” the spokesperson continued.
Not stopping there, the spokesperson added that cooperation “not only bolsters public safety, national security and border security, it also lessens the threat that our officers face each day when they bravely go out into the community to apprehend these violent criminal aliens.”
The Trump administration’s immigration priorities have focused on strengthening enforcement mechanisms nationwide. Indeed, Texas has emerged as a key partner in these efforts.
While progressive-led cities continue obstructing federal immigration enforcement, Texas’ largest urban centers are demonstrating how local and federal authorities can work together effectively.
By following established legal frameworks for cooperation, Houston and San Antonio are upholding the rule of law while prioritizing community safety. This approach acknowledges the legitimate authority of federal immigration enforcement while ensuring that those with outstanding warrants face appropriate consequences.
As the national debate over immigration enforcement continues, these Texas cities offer a contrasting model to sanctuary jurisdictions. It is one that respects federal authority and recognizes that effective immigration enforcement depends on cooperation between all levels of government. We could use more of this common sense approach across America.
Source: Fox News
