47 other states already require proof of being in country legally
By State Sen. Tommy Williams
Texas Insider Report: AUSTIN Texas As Chairman of the State Senate Transportation & Homeland Security Committee and author of the anti-sanctuary cities legislation (Special Session SB 9) I feel it is important to set the record straight on this legislation. SB 9 is intended to protect all Texans from illegal criminal & terrorist alien activities regardless of the illegal aliens country of origin.
SB 9 as passed by the State Senate is a uniform statewide requirement which:
- Allows local/state law enforcement officers the discretion to inquire about citizenship of those stopped for probable cause of breaking a local/state law;
- Requires all Texas jails to conduct citizenship background checks; and
- Requires proof of lawful presence to obtain a Texas Drivers License.
As such SB 9 is intended to protect all Texans from illegal criminal and terrorist alien activities regardless of the illegal aliens country of origin.
While the federal government is responsible for handling immigration related issues the anti-sanctuary cities legislation does not change this nor does it make local police responsible for immigration enforcement. SB 9 only preserves the critical cooperation between local-state-federal law enforcement needed to protect our state.
As for in-jail citizenship background checks all 254 Texas county jails currently perform fingerprint citizenship background checks under the federal Secure
Communities Program.
SB9 expands this requirement to city jails as well.
So just as we use fingerprints to run persons arrested through a criminal history database check all individuals arrested and booked will also have their fingerprints run through a federal Department of Homeland Security lawful presence database check.
Finally as a nation one of the most frightening realizations after the attacks of 9/11 was learning terrorists involved in these brutal attacks had lived and worked here in the U.S. for years after their initial lawful presence had expired.
Roughly two years ago the
Texas Department of Public Safety discovered individuals who were not in the country legally were coming to Texas from New York State to obtain a Texas drivers license which they could then take back to New York and use as primary identification. At that time Texas lacked a lawful presence requirement.
After this realization DPS like similar agencies in 47 other states enacted rules requiring a person to prove he or she is in the country legally in order to obtain their drivers license or ID. SB 9 codifies current DPS department rules and makes a Texas drivers license issued to a temporary resident expire with that persons lawful presence in the United States.
Because terrorist and illegal criminal alien activity is real not only along the Texas border but all across our state I hope more individuals will take time to read through and make a thoughtful conclusion about SB 9.
You may access this legislation at
http://www.capitol.state.tx.us
A life-long Texan State Senator Tommy Williams (R-The Woodlands) serves as Chairman of the Senate Transportation & Homeland Security Committee and as a member on the Senate 
Finance Committee International Relations & Trade Committee State Affairs Committee and the Senates Select Committee on Redistricting. By special appointment of Lt. Gov. Dewhurst Williams also serves as a member of the Legislative Audit Committee the Texas Legislative Council and The Energy Council. His legislative leadership & strong conservative voting record have been recognized and honored by many state & community groups and organizations throughout his tenure in the Texas House and Texas Senate.
