June 2, 2017

AUSTIN, TX – American Gateways is encouraged by the recent news that the cities of Austin and San Antonio as well as the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF) have filed suit to stop Governor Abbott’s “show me your papers” law, SB4.  As a leading immigration legal service provider in the region, we know firsthand the importance of a strong, collaborative relationship between the immigrant community and local institutions, including law enforcement. We are thus deeply concerned over the potential chilling effect that SB4 will have on immigrant survivors of crime, abuse, and human trafficking reporting their experiences to law enforcement. We abhor the notion that some of our most vulnerable residents must now live in a climate of fear and uncertainty, not knowing whether to trust the very institutions meant to keep them safe. We are proud to live and work in two communities that take this threat seriously and are hopeful that this discriminatory and dangerous law will soon be stopped in its tracks.