AUSTIN, Texas - Travis County Sheriff Sally Hernandez responded to Governor Greg Abbott's statements about removing her from her position based on her stance on enforcing immigration.
"I respect the job of our state leaders, but I will not allow fear and misinformation to be my guiding principles as a leader sworn to protect this community," said Hernandez.
In her statement, Hernandez goes on to say:
I am following all state and federal laws, and upholding constitutional rights to due process for all in our criminal justice system. Our community is safer when people can report crimes without fear of deportation. I trust the court system and our judges to assess the risks and set appropriate bonds and conditions for all who are incarcerated. The voters, who elected state leaders and me, expect and deserve a collaborative effort to come up with solutions to this very complex issue. That is precisely what I’m committed to.
Abbott said on Tuesday that she would lose her job unless she reversed her policy to stop honoring all federal immigration detainers in the Travis County jail. He has also said that he will withhold state grant dollars.
The governor does not have the power to remove local officials, but Texas Republicans have filed bills to punish local governments that do not arrest or detail undocumented immigrants.