Texas Catholic Conference of Bishops opposes SB 8

With recent changes, the TCCB opposes SB 8 out of concern that it does not adequately provide for uniform enforcement and training of local police officers who may now be authorized to enforce immigration laws in Texas.

The primary duty of state and local law enforcement is to maintain the peace and protect communities from those who seek to harm others.

SB 8 now mandates local sheriffs to enter into agreements (287(g)) with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), but does not provide funding for training of local police in ICE protocols. This causes concern that enforcement may not be consistent and uniform because local officers may not be specifically trained in immigration matters. These agreements may have the effect of eroding trust in law enforcement, endangering public safety and could lead to unintended civil rights violations due to errors in status determinations.

All law enforcement agencies can and should cooperate with each other but should not assume each other’s responsibilities or jurisdiction. Each should focus on its own primary duties and not be burdened by another agency’s operations. The obligation to control the international border lies with federal authorities, an international principle which the Catholic Church affirms.

The Catholic Church has a long history of involvement in the immigration issue; indeed, we are an immigrant Church, and this experience compels us to speak out on immigration reform, which is a serious moral issue that directly impacts human rights.

The Church’s work in assisting migrants is based upon the truth that every person is created in God’s image and upon our obedience to Christ’s mandate to welcome the stranger (Mt. 25:35).
If SB 8 is signed into law, we encourage local sheriff’s offices to request “warrant only” service agreements to protect local community policing strategies.

The Texas Catholic Conference of Bishops (TCCB) is a federation of all Roman Catholic dioceses and ordinariates located in the State of Texas. Approximately one third of Texans identify as Catholic.