Good morning Mr. Chairman and members, my name is Andrew Rivas and I am the executive director of the Texas Catholic Conference. The TCC is the statewide association of the 15 Roman Catholic dioceses in our state and it is our responsibility to advocate for the public policy positions of all the active Bishops of Texas.

First, let me begin by thanking you Mr. Chairman, and the committee, for allowing me to testify today on House Bill 623. The TCC opposes this bill because HB 623 would require local law enforcement to verify the immigration status of people who are arrested. The TCC believes that it is not the responsibility of local law enforcement to enforce federal laws and opposes any legislation that would punish state agencies that do not enforce federal laws.

HB 623 will likely require police officers to investigate immigration status every time they make an arrest and suspect the person is an unauthorized immigrant. This requirement is burdensome. It will divert scarce resources away from investigating and pursuing serious criminals. The use of police officers to enforce immigration laws will likely undermine the relationship between the local police and the communities they serve. As an example, immigrant victims of crime will be less likely to seek assistance from police if they think their immigration status will be questioned. Additionally, witnesses to crimes will be reluctant to come forward to help with an investigation or assist in a prosecution if their involvement may lead to their deportation.

The men and women of law enforcement agencies charged with maintaining the United States-Mexico border have very difficult jobs that require many hours of training. The TCC believes that it would be bad policy to require local law enforcement personnel to take on the duties of federal officials. For example, not all legal immigrants are required to carry green cards and sometimes citizens leave their homes without their driver’s licenses. An untrained police officer could unintentionally trigger litigation challenges from legal immigrants and native-born citizens who feel they have been unjustly targeted by police.

The TCC opposes HB 623 because it is bad public policy and we ask that every member of this committee also oppose the bill. Thank you.