The City of Austin on Monday filed a preliminary motion with a federal court to rule against the constitutionality of Senate Bill 4, or the “sanctuary cities” bill.
According to Austin Mayor Steve Adler, the city successfully filed for the injunction with the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas in San Antonio just minutes before 5 p.m. on Monday evening.
Standing alongside Austin City Council members Greg Casar (District 4), Delia Garza (District 2) and Sabino "Pio" Renteria (District 3), Adler said the motion seeks to show that the state of Texas and the federal Immigration Customs Enforcement raids “have collaborated to punish Austin and Travis County” and inflicted injury on the city. Austin will also try to prove the economic and social impact SB 4 has had and will have on the city.
Among the assertions that the legislation is unconstitutional, Adler highlighted the language that gives the governor the attorney general power to remove any elected official from public office who endorses a policy that is contrary to the bill.
“We are endorsing policy that is contrary to SB 4 because that law is wrong and is not just,” Adler said.
Adler mentioned that the city’s legal department received a notice from the U.S. Department of Justice that they are interested in appearing at the court proceeding. Adler said the department will likely support SB 4.
The hearing is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. on Monday, June 26 at the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas in San Antonio.