Texas State Capitol rally sparks conversation on controversial SB 4 immigration bill

AUSTIN, Texas (KEYE) — Senate Bill 4, a controversial Texas immigration law, was at the forefront of a rally and march that took place Saturday morning at the Texas State Capitol.

The bill was supposed to take effect Saturday before it was temporarily halted by the U.S. Supreme Court Monday.

“Forty percent of the population in this state is Latino, Mexicano, it’s our people,” said Jessie F. Fuentes with the Eagle Pass Border Coalition.

Hundreds of people from across the state came together to say no to SB 4 and no to Operation Lone Star.

I came to this country as a war refugee from Vietnam, so it’s important to me that everybody is welcomed to this country and is given the same opportunity,” said opponent of SB 4 Anna Nguyen.

SB 4 would allow Texas police to arrest people they suspect of crossing the border illegally.

That especially struck a chord for those foreign-born. It’s what drove people like Lizeth Chacon, executive director of Workers Defense, to come to the Austin rally from Dallas. She said the bill will only incite fear in communities and is just another form of racism.

“A lot of conversations are happening at the kitchen tables right now, right, of like, ‘Do we need to leave Texas? Is it safe for us to stay? Do we have have our kids passports? What if I get picked up on my way to work? And, who’s gonna pick up my kids from school?’” Chacon said. “Those are the tough conversations that immigrant families are having.”

Earlier this week, the U.S. Supreme Court temporarily halted SB 4 from taking effect until March 13, while they consider whether it will allow Texas to enforce the bill.

Opponents want it repealed entirely, calling it immoral and inhumane.

The ugliness of the way they’re mistreating human beings, human beings, treating them like animals,” said Fuentes. “It’s an ugly thing to see.”

Saturday’s rally, packed with those against the bill, started at the Austin City Hall Plaza with several speakers from border cities and organizations. They were angry, and they were sad that a protest like this even has to take place.

“Local authorities, county authorities are gonna be able to now stop you because of the color of your skin,” Fuentes said. “It upsets me that legislators in this building behind me knew what they were doing – it’s a violation of the Constitution.”

The hyped-up crowd could be heard shouting "No SB 4" in English and in Spanish.

The day ended with those protestors making their way to the south steps of the Capitol. They were greeted by dancers performing indigenous dances, reminding them of what they say is the beauty of immigration.