Fort Worth votes against joining sanctuary cities lawsuit

Fort Worth will not join Dallas and three other cities in a lawsuit against the state’s new sanctuary cities law.

Early Wednesday a divided city council rejected a motion to join the suit with Mayor Betsy Price against the idea. A protest followed that decision.

In addition to Dallas, Houston, Austin and San Antonio are suing over Senate Bill 4, which would require police to cooperate with federal immigration authorities.

It also permits officers to question anyone they detain about their immigration status.

Mayor Price said Fort Worth has nothing to gain by joining the lawsuit.

“I believe it’s more constructive for us to work together for a long-term game plan. How do we address fear of our police department? How do we address the mistrust,” she said.

After the vote, some people started chanting “Shut down the floor.” They were escorted out of council chambers.

Unless a court intervenes, the new sanctuary cities law takes effect on Sept. 1. A federal judge in San Antonio had a hearing on the lawsuit in late June but has not yet ruled on it.