Dan Patrick slams Democratic mayors over sanctuary cities on national TV Immigration policies in the spotlight after weekend deaths in San Antonio

Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick presides over the senate in Austin, Texas, Tuesday, July 18, 2017. State lawmakers begin a special legislative session Republican Gov. Greg Abbott felt compelled to call in order to tackle conservative priorities that stalled previously, chief among them a "bathroom bill" targeting transgender people. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) less Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick presides over the senate in Austin, Texas, Tuesday, July 18, 2017. State lawmakers begin a special legislative session Republican Gov. Greg Abbott felt compelled to call in order to ... more Photo: Eric Gay, STF Photo: Eric Gay, STF Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Dan Patrick slams Democratic mayors over sanctuary cities on national TV 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick took to national television to keep up his attack accusing Democrats of promoting policies that are "killing people" like those who died in a tractor trailer in a San Antonio Walmart parking lot.

During a short interview on Fox News Channel on Tuesday morning, Patrick said Democratic mayors and President Barack Obama's policies are to blame for the deaths in San Antonio. Patrick made national headlines over the weekend when he first launched his attack via Facebook on Sunday.

"This is just a horrendous tragedy that should never happen in America," Patrick told Fox and Friends anchor Steve Doocy on Tuesday. "But our policies from the last administration and quite frankly the Democrat policies of today of an open border and sanctuary cities, allows and enables the drug smugglers who don't care about human life to put people in this horrific situation."

Patrick, a Houston Republican, didn't stop there.

He compared New York Mayor Bill de Blasio and Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel -- both Democrats -- to Democratic mayors in Texas cities who are suing the state over the recently passed Senate Bill 4 that he says was aimed at cracking down on so-called sanctuary cities.

"Their policies are killing people," Patrick said of the Democratic mayors.

Senate Bill 4, which goes into effect Sept. 1, allows police to ask people their immigration status if stopped and threatens sheriffs and police chiefs who refuse federal requests to hold immigrants detained for other alleged crimes with face jail time and fines

Houston has joined Dallas, San Antonio, Austin and El Paso in suing to block the legislation.