Texas AG alleges San Antonio mayor told staff to not contact ICE, flouting SB 4 law
Accusations against San Antonio mayor included in amended petition in ongoing sanctuary cities lawsuit
Updated:
Tags:
Mayor Ron Nirenberg
SAN ANTONIO – San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg for the first time has been implicated by the Texas Attorney General in an ongoing “sanctuary cities” lawsuit that accuses the city of flouting a state law that requires local governments to cooperate with federal immigration authorities.
According to a petition filed by Attorney General Ken Paxton’s office, Nirenberg instructed city staff not to contact federal authorities after 12 people believed to be immigrants without documentation were found inside a tractor-trailer in December 2017.
Bexar DA says cite-and-release for petty crimes is working well
FacebookTwitterEmail
Bexar County District Attorney Joe Gonzales speaks during a press conference Nov. 20.Jerry Lara /San Antonio Express-News
A cite-and-release program for nonviolent offenses especially involving marijuana has kept nearly 2,500 people out of jail, saved taxpayers $1.8 million in booking and court costs and put police officers back on the streets to handle higher-priority crime, Bexar County District Attorney Joe Gonzales says.
Gonzales, a defense attorney for 20 years and now just two years into the DA’s position, said the nascent program has been widely praised by judges, police and the criminal defense bar.