The Chronicle editorial board isn’t going to like this pointed criticism of MayorWhiteChiefHurtt from the House Majority Leader, which means they may comment on it in a week or so:
House Majority Leader Tom DeLay criticized the city of Houston’s “sanctuary” policy toward illegal immigrants in a speech Thursday night.
Speaking to a packed house of Fort Bend County Republican faithful, DeLay said he supported the concept behind legislation introduced by U.S. Rep. Tom Tancredo, R-Colo., that would withhold federal funding from cities such as Houston that refuse to enforce immigration law.
“It greatly concerns me that the police chief in Houston, Texas, has created a sanctuary in Houston by announcing that he is not going to enforce our laws,” the Sugar Land Republican said, in response to a question about Tancredo’s bill.
“That is unacceptable, and we hope to address it through Tancredo’s legislation or other legislation.”
Since 1992, a Houston Police Department policy has officially forbidden officers from enforcing immigration laws in most cases.
Mayor Bill White has said he supports continuing the policy, because he believes immigration is a federal matter and he wants to free police up to protect the city from violent criminals.
PREVIOUSLY: Ellis: HPD should stop ignoring violations of immigration law.
