SAN ANTONIO – Senate Bill 42 has been filed by state Sen. José Menendez to repeal Senate Bill 4, which is also known as the "Show Me Your Papers" law, or the "sanctuary cities" bill.
"SB4 is a poorly veiled act of discrimination against people of color that erodes the trust between law enforcement and the community," Menendez said. "It has caused grave concern over the survival of human dignity, civil rights, public safety and the principles on which this nation was built."
Menendez filed the bill Friday to be ready for Tuesday's start of the 30-day special session, due to what the 26th District Democrat calls the "dangerous consequences and damaging effects that the SB4 law will have on U.S. citizens, immigrant families, law enforcement and the communities they serve" once it takes effect.
The 10 other Democrats in the Senate joined as co-sponsors of the bill.
"It will allow police officers to do their job to serve and protect and not be burdened with racial profiling or having to enforce federal immigration law," Menendez said.
The city of San Antonio and Bexar County have decided to join lawsuits against SB4. San Antonio Police Chief William McManus has said the law would not allow his department to fight crime effectively.
KSAT 12 reached out to the governor’s office but has not gotten a response.
In the past, Gov. Greg Abbott has said this is a matter of public safety, and Texas should not harbor those who are breaking the law.
With the governor backing SB4 and a Republican-controlled Legislature, Menendez said he knows his bill is a long shot to pass.
“When there are problems, you don't just lay down. You don't just give up. I think my constituents, the 900,000 people that live in Senate District 26, I owe it to them to stand up and do what's right," said Menendez.
SB4 is currently set to take effect Sept. 1.
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