AUSTIN, TX – Zaira Garcia, Regional Government Relations Director at FWD.us, issued the following statement today in response to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals' decision to lift the injunction on Texas Senate Bill 4, allowing state police to enforce immigration law:
“We are deeply concerned about today’s ruling. SB 4 threatens the rights of immigrant communities and millions of other Texans by allowing state law enforcement to arrest individuals based on perceived immigration status. This creates an environment where our neighbors – including U.S. citizens and legal residents – will face increased fear of profiling for simply going about their daily lives.
“The economic toll will also be severe. Immigrants make up nearly a quarter of Texas’ workforce and contribute an estimated $225 billion annually to our state’s economy. When immigrant workers are targeted and disrupted, entire industries suffer – from healthcare and construction to agriculture and hospitality – and the impact reaches all Texans.
“ Texas thrives when we welcome immigrants and make our state a safe place for them to live and work, and this is pushing us in the entirely wrong direction.”
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