AUSTIN, Texas — Austin leaders are taking steps to protect the city's immigrant communities.
On Thursday, the majority of council members approved a resolution condemning Texas Senate Bill 4, a controversial immigration bill signed into law by Gov. Greg Abbott in December 2023 that briefly went into effect in March 2024 before being blocked by a federal appeals court.
"The goal of Senate Bill 4 is to stop the tidal wave of illegal entry into Texas," Abbott said at the bill's signing.
Austin Councilmember Vanessa Fuentes said as a daughter of immigrant parents, she felt it was her duty to ensure the safety of the immigrant community in Austin, should SB4 go into effect again.
"For many in our immigrant community, they are fearful of reaching out to public safety responders," Fuentes said. "And so, we want to ensure that we have guidance on hand on how our police officers should be interacting with our community."
The resolution deprioritizes the bill in the capital city and directs the city manger to work with the Austin Police Department (APD) on making enforcement of the law a low priority. It also directs the city to increase resources and services for immigrants so they know their rights, as well as have options.
"The best and highest use of our police time is better spent solving violent crime rather than and separating families and leading to deportations," said Fuentes.
KVUE reached out to APD about the city's resolution. The department said that it already have an extensive policy when it comes to officers interacting with the city's immigrant community, and it will be working with the city manager's office in meeting the instructions in the resolution.
The department added:
"As law enforcement officers we will continue to investigate the facts surrounding criminal activity or suspected criminal activity to ensure justice is served and strive to provide a safe community for all. APD respects and serves the whole Austin community. It is vital for the community to understand that APD will continue to follow its policies and state law that prohibit racial profiling. If you are a victim or witness of a crime, do not hesitate to report the information to the Austin Police Department.
SB4 is currently being challenged in federal court and is not being enforced. APD will continue to monitor the ongoing federal litigation related to SB 4 and ensure that our officers are fully trained and kept informed of further developments."
According to Austin-based immigration attorney Kate Lincoln-Goldfinch, the resolution serves as a reminder that although a decision for SB4 looms, people shouldn't forget that it's still out there.
"I think that the police department probably has to be cautious in the way that they roll this out," Lincoln-Goldfinch said. "I read this as a sentiment about how the city feels, about how the police department feels, and therefore how the immigrant community can and should feel moving around throughout the city."
KVUE asked Lincoln-Goldfinch how the resolution will play out between state lawmakers and city leaders.
"You see a lot of this push pull between, you know, a progressive city and a conservative state legislature," Lincoln-Goldfinch said. "And so, you know, at the end of the day, does this have an impact on whether SB4 will be enforced in the city of Austin? Probably only slightly."
Lincoln-Goldfinch also reiterated the importance of people knowing their options and thinking ahead if SB4 does go back into effect.
Fuentes said the next step is to prioritize additional funding in the city's next budget cycle should it be required for those extra resources and services.
The city of Dallas also passed a similar resolution back in June.