This suit challenges Texas's "Sanctuary City" legislation, Senate Bill 4 (SB4), which requires local Texas law enforcement to cooperate with federal immigration officials and punishes them if they do not. Unlike the
other suits in this special collection, this suit does not challenge President Trump's "Sanctuary City" Executive Order.
To start with an overview, there are, so far, four cases addressing SB4. The four cases are: Texas v. Travis County, No. 1:17-cv-00425 (W.D. Tex.),
IM-TX-0044, before Judge Sparks, and three matters before Judge Orlando L. Garcia:
This one.
City of El Cenizo v. State of Texas, No. 5:17-cv-00404 (W.D. Tex.),
IM-TX-0045 City of San Antonio, Texas v. State of Texas, No. 5:17-cv-00489 (W.D. Tex.),
IM-TX-0047 The three cases pending before Judge Garcia were brought by pro-immigration cities and counties seeking an injunction barring implementation of SB4. The other case was brought by brought by Texas seeking a declaratory judgment upholding SB4, against pro-immigration cities and counties. On June 6, Judge Garcia ordered a consolidation of this case with the San Antonio and El Cenzino cases, with El Cenzino becoming the lead case in the consolidation. Travis County, however, remains separate.
This case was quickly consolidated with the two other before Judge Garcia; please refer to
El Cenizo v. Texas for further information and updates.
This case was administratively closed on Oct. 24, 2017 in light of the consolidation.
Virginia Weeks - 06/17/2017
Jamie Kessler - 07/31/2017
Virginia Weeks - 10/25/2017
compress summary