County to wade into state immigration matters
December 15, 2008
So far, state lawmakers have already filed nearly a dozen bills including the word "immigrant" and nearly a half-dozen including the words "immigration status;" it's bills like these that the county now says it's planning to officially weigh in on.
Written by Martin Bartlett, KVIA
EL PASO -- When the 81st Texas Legislature convenes next month, El Paso County will be taking a stand against any bills that could be deemed "anti-immigrant."
"Our lobbyists already are being put on notice by a result of you passing this resolution that anti-immigration legislation is something you all are interested in," said County Attorney José Rodriguez, explaining Monday's action.
So far, state lawmakers have already filed nearly a dozen bills including the word "immigrant" and nearly a half-dozen including the words "immigration status;" it's bills like these that the county now says it's planning to officially weigh in on.
County Commissioner Dan Haggerty, the lone vote against the action, said officially opposing bills that could be considered "anti-immigrant" could also put the county in an uncomfortable position down the road.
"When you do something like this ... you're instructing an elected official on how to do his job," he told Rodriguez.
Two other members of the court who both voted in favor of the move apparently saw some validity in Haggerty's concern.
"I don't want to give a blanket approval," County Judge Anthony Cobos said. "Who's going to decide that it's blatantly anti-immigrant or just borderline?"
County Commissioner Veronica Escobar agreed with Cobos' concern.
"I think there's some wisdom in reviewing these things, but at least we've given our lobbyists a direction," she said.
As the Legislature gets cranked up next month, the county's lobbyists will let them know when potentially divisive border legislation comes up and commissioners will then vote -- one-by-one -- on which ones to support and which ones to oppose.
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