Posted on 10/21/2017 4:05:12 PM PDT by Tarasaramozart
A Texas law banning sanctuary cities would harm diplomatic relations between the U.S. and Mexico, Mexico argues in a brief submitted to the appeals court reviewing the law.
The brief, filed Thursday with the Fifth District Court of Appeals in New Orleans, says whenever state or local officials act improperly in upholding the sanctuary law, the U.S. federal government would be unable to resolve the problem or prevent similar ones. Thus it runs the risk "that actions of a state or its officials regarding immigration enforcement could irreparably damage U.S. foreign policy interests with respect to a particular country."
Texas' sanctuary law, known as SB 4, may be the toughest in the country. In addition to banning sanctuary cities — jurisdictions that choose not to comply with federal immigration enforcement — it allows local law enforcement officers to question the immigration status of people they detain or arrest.
And the law seeks to punish local government department heads and elected officials who don't cooperate with federal immigration "detainers" — federal requests to turn over immigrants possibly subject to deportation. Punishment could come in the form of jail time and penalties that exceed $25,000.
Passed by the majority-Republican legislature and signed into law by the state governor in April and May, SB 4 was promptly challenged in federal court, which ruled in August the measure could not take effect because it conflicted with U.S. immigration law.
In late September, an appeals court allowed partial implementation of the law, specifically the section requiring jail officials to honor all detainers, while the court considers the appeal.
Enter Mexico
On record with the appeals court as opposing the law are most of Texas' largest cities, while 11 states and the federal government have signed on to support it.
Mexico joined the cities after the law raised concerns in the Mexican community.
The Migration Policy Institute estimates about 2.5 million people living in Texas were born in Mexico, and Mexico's brief says that SB 4 has caused them "fear, panic and uncertainty."
Between May and September this year, the number of phone calls to a Mexican government operation call center increased 818 percent over the same period in 2016.
Mexico's main argument, one likely to be echoed by other plaintiffs, is that U.S. immigration law is a federal matter, not a state one.
"Courts should carefully scrutinize any state immigration enforcement law that potentially requires foreign governments to negotiate or otherwise engage with the different states to protect the interests of its nationals," the brief said, adding that state laws have the power to "damage U.S. foreign policy interests."
A federal motion filed with the appeals court a week ago argued that state and local cooperation with detainer requests is a matter of public safety.
"Without such cooperation, such aliens would be released back into the communities, requiring federal officials to attempt more dangerous arrests on the streets," the motion reads.
The Fifth Circuit Appeals Court is considered one of the most conservative in the country. Oral arguments in the case are scheduled for November 7.
Definition of expatriate
expatriated; expatriating
transitive verb
1 :banish, exile
2 :to withdraw (oneself) from residence in or allegiance to one’s native country
intransitive verb
:to leave one’s native country to live elsewhere; also :to renounce allegiance to one’s native country
— expatriation play n\ noun
As long as the dinero keeps flowing south, Mexico considers them Mexican citizens. That’s why they don’t want them back.
I’ve seen some resentment by Mexicans who stayed in Mexico against their `expatriates’ here, but it seems to be more trepidation by `castilians’ about having to take back mestizos. Not sure why. They weren’t supporting them there, as we do here.
Send `em back, wait for the revoluccion. They can fight for their own country.
I do not see a problem. Economically Mexico is not in the drivers seat. They can do nothing. It is only to their advantage to cooperate with the United States. It is all bluster for local political consumption.
The people at the top in Mexico are all “Crony Capitalists” and really do not give a damn. Their government is corrupt and the result is Mexico does not even come close to living up to their great potential. It should be a very rich and prosperous nation. It is not. Their lack of great progress is internal.
The real hell of it is, Mexico has a lot of great people with an incredible work ethic. They have a lot of bad people also. This is a result of corruption.
I grew up on the border, speak Spanish and traveled extensively in Mexico until it became to damn dangerous. I married a wonderful Mexican lady, an engineer. I know of which I speak. She will not go to Mexico anymore. It is dangerous.
Correct. See my post #42
they beat the #### out of a lot of those folks.
that’s known.
i’ve no problem with it. it’s just that they dont just “have strict laws and enforce them”
which adds EXPONENTIALLY to the hypocrisy!!!
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