Abbott declares emergency to ban sanctuary cities

SLIDESHOW: How major cities have responded to Trump's sanctuary cities policy

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott on Tuesday declared a ban on so-called sanctuary cities and sweeping reforms in the state's troubled child-protection system as top priorities for emergency action this legislative session.

See how other locations are responding to the sanctuary city debate ... less SLIDESHOW: How major cities have responded to Trump's sanctuary cities policy

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott on Tuesday declared a ban on so-called sanctuary cities and sweeping reforms in the state's troubled ... more Photo: TOM REEL, STAFF Photo: TOM REEL, STAFF Image 1 of / 51 Caption Close Abbott declares emergency to ban sanctuary cities 1 / 51 Back to Gallery

AUSTIN -- Gov. Greg Abbott on Tuesday declared a ban on so-called sanctuary cities and sweeping reforms in the state's troubled child-protection system as top priorities for emergency action this legislative session.

To cheers and a standing ovation as he addressed a joint session of the Legislature, Abbott said elected officials should not have the option of whether to enforce state and federal laws on immigration -- an obvious reference to his ongoing fight with Travis County Sheriff Sally Hernandez.

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"Elected officials do not to pick and chose which laws to enforce," Abbott said in his State of the State speech, insisting that state and local officials "must protect Texas" from deadly criminals.

"This will be the session where we ban sanctuary cities," he said to cheers and a standing ovation as he addressed a joint session of the Legislature.

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Hernandez has announced she will decline some federal detention requests of undocumented immigrants who are jailed.

Abbott has given Hernandez until Wednesday to rescind her new policy or face possible sanctions, including a cutoff of state grant funding -- and possible removal from office. He earlier said he wants state law changed to allow for removal.

Abbott also said he intends to maintain state-funded security along the Texas-Mexico border, though he hinted that federal officials may be poised to step up their presence in a move that could allow Texas taxpayers to trim their current $800 million investment.

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He said he plans Wednesday to meet in the Rio Grande Valley with federal officials to discuss their new efforts, which President Trump has said will include thousands of additional immigration agents and the construction of a border wall.

Identifying reforms in child-protection programs his No. 1 priority, Abbott said he has proposed spending more than the the Senate and House to improve those programs now, to prevent any more deaths in the state's system. More than 100 died last year while in the state system, he said.

"Do not fund this rickety system only to have it come back to haunt you in years to come," Abbott told lawmakers. "Do it right."

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The state's foster-care system faces likely federal court supervision, after being found unconstitutional a year ago, and officials for months have been scrambling to ramp up hiring to offset skyrocketing employee turnover rates and to find placements for thousands of children who have been in temporary housing -- some for years.

Abbott also declared ethics reform an emergency, allowing fast passage of a bill to require disclosure of conflicts of interest by state officials and lawmakers.

Abbott also ordered an immediate hiring freeze in all state agencies through August to free up more than $200 million, and give legislative budget-writers a way not to have to raid the state's so-called "Rainy Day Fund."

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In his speech, Abbott also endorsed passage of a so-called "school choice" law to allow parents to decide where they send their children to school, said property tax reforms are vital and demanded a cut in the state's business franchise tax "until we can fit it in a coffin."

He also called for quick approval of a resolution affirming Texas' support for a Convention of State to amend the U.S. Constitution to give states more power over federal actions, including a balanced-budget amendment.

On key national security issues and some other issues, the federal government should have authority, but on many other issues "leave us alone and let Texans govern Texas," Abbott said.

>>>Click through the above gallery to see locations that have declared themselves "sanctuary cities" and the reaction to Donald Trump's threats against them.