This week on Fronteras:
- A pregnant immigrant mother fights to be released from a detention center in San Diego.
Judge Puts Sanctuary Cities Law On Hold
A federal judge in San Antonio is blocking Senate Bill Four, which critics call the “show me your papers” law. Just two days before the sanctuary cities bill was to have gone into effect on September 1st, Judge Orlando Garcia struck down parts of it. Multiple Texas cities including San Antonio, Austin and Houston had sued the state saying SB4 is unconstitutional. The ruling strikes down the requirement that jail officials honor all detainer requests from federal immigration officials. Judge Garcia let stand the provision that allows law enforcement to ask the immigration status of anyone they arrest or detain. Texas Governor Greg Abbott says the state will appeal. TPR’s Joey Palacios has more.
Members of the immigrant community celebrated the ruling to block part of SB4 Thursday morning on the steps of the John Wood Federal Court House in San Antonio.
Johnathan Ryan is Executive director of RAICES - -an immigrant and refugee legal services center. Ryan says “This decision was a critical ounce of relief compared to the mountain of pain people in the state are suffering.” He adds that starting with the pardon of Joe Arpiaio, followed by Hurricane Harvey and federal officials continuing their work at border checkpoints, the week has been a tough one for immigrants and their advocates.
Ryan says the rally was designed to let immigrants and refugees know they have rights and are safe.
Detained Pregnant Mother Fights For Release
A few weeks ago, a pregnant mother was detained in San Diego while walking to work. Now the mother of three is fighting to be released from an immigrant detention center. Jean Guerrero of KPBS has details.
Confederate Controversy Prompts School Name Change
Racial controversy over tributes to Confederates continues to create change in the Alamo City. Thursday, the San Antonio City Council voted to relocate a Confederate monument from Travis Park. It was removed overnight that night. And the North East Independent School District board in San Antonio has voted to change the name of Robert E. Lee high school A similar petition driven by students at the school failed two years ago. This time, recent violent events around Confederate landmarks convinced some school board members to reconsider removing the Confederate general’s name. TPR’s Joey Palacios was there.
Family Takes Refuge From Harvey In Unconventional Shelter
The sun is shining again in South Texas after Hurricane Harvey made landfall as a Category 4 storm and dumped a record breaking 51.9 inches of rain. Harvey devastated homes and businesses along the coast as it came ashore in Rockport north of Corpus Christi. Then as a tropical storm, Harvey stalled over the Houston area for four days causing catastrophic flooding before moving on to Louisiana. More than 30 people died and the toll could go higher. Damages are in the billions and mounting. The South Texas city of Refugio was one of those hit hard. KUT’s Jimmy Maas tells the story of one family that rode out the destructive storm.
New State Law Pushes Homeowners To File Harvey Claims Fast
People are slowing making their way back to their homes to assess the damage caused by Harvey. A new Texas law pushed many homeowners to file their insurance claims before September 1st, when the law went into effect. Texas Public Radio’s Ryan Poppe reports critics of the new law, say its helps insurance companies more than homeowners.
Newborns Evacuated Ahead Of Hurricane Harvey
Some of the very first evacuees from Harvey were newborns in intensive care. They were flown out of a Corpus Christi hospital before the storm to Fort Worth. KERA’s Stella Chavez has the story of one mother who had just 20 minutes to get ready to leave with her baby girl.