Senate Bill 4 Frequently Asked Questions (2024)

Disclaimer: These FAQs are meant for informational purposes only, and are not provided for the purpose of addressing individual situations. The FAQs are not meant to be considered specific legal advice, which can only be given by lawyers to their clients. You should contact your own attorney or a legal clinic if you need guidance about a specific legal question.

Overview of the Law

Answer: SB 4 is a law that was passed by the Texas Legislature in 2017 and signed into law by Governor Greg Abbott. It is sometimes called the Sanctuary Cities Bill, because its goal is to outlaw so-called “sanctuary cities” by forbidding local law enforcement agencies from adopting policies that prevent a peace officer from asking about a person’s immigration status. Additionally, if federal immigration authorities ask, the police departments must cooperate with them to enforce federal immigration law.

Answer: Yes. SB 4 specifically applies to campus police, as well as police departments of cities, towns, or counties or other special authorities. This includes a sheriff, municipal police department, municipal attorney, county attorney and district attorney.

Answer: As a public university, UH is bound to follow Texas law. In compliance with SB 4, the University of Houston Police Department may not enact a policy or practice which prohibits the enforcement of immigration laws. The UH Police Department has never had such a policy or practice, so there will not be a need to change course in order to comply with the law. UHPD does not function as an immigration force, nor does it serve to facilitate an environment of fear. UHPD officers are not checking the immigration status of students, faculty, staff, vendors, visitors, persons reporting crimes, or victims of crimes. Campus police are here to support student success and to promote and preserve a safe campus environment for students, faculty, staff, and the public.

Answer: No. A police department, however, may not have any policy which materially limits a peace officer from:

• inquiring about the immigration status of a person under lawful detention or under arrest. The definition of lawful detention excludes those who are detained as a victim of or witness to a crime, or reporting a crime;
• sending information to, maintaining, exchanging, or requesting information from ICE or other agency, or about the immigration status of a person in detention or under arrest;
• assisting or cooperating with federal immigration officers as reasonable or necessary, including providing enforcement assistance, unless at a place of worship; or
• permitting immigration officers to enter a jail to enforce immigration law.

Answer: The law goes into effect September 1, 2017. There are several lawsuits which have been filed to challenge the law. At this time, no court has decided to delay or halt the enforcement of the law.

Answer: The law goes into effect September 1, 2017. In addition, there are several lawsuits currently pending which are challenging the enforcement of the law. At this time, no court has decided to delay or halt the enforcement of the law. We will post updates on this site as they become available.

Answer: The term “sanctuary city” has no specific legal meaning, but is generally used to describe local governments that do not enforce federal immigration laws, or are perceived to fail to enforce them.

Similarly, the term “sanctuary campus” is another well-intentioned misnomer which has no specific legal meaning and is interpreted differently by distinct groups. It is therefore not a phrase used by the University since to some people it implies that the University or its students somehow seek to break the law. The University continues to provide a supportive and nurturing educational environment for all its students as it complies with federal and state law. The University’s commitment to these values are encompassed in the UH Diversity and Inclusion Statement below.

Answer: The obligations of the police department are defined by what it cannot do rather than what it must do. A university police department cannot have a policy which prevents its officers from:

• inquiring about the immigration status of a person under lawful detention or under arrest;
• exchanging information with federal immigration authorities about the immigration status of a person under lawful detention or under arrest;
• assisting or cooperating with federal immigration authorities as reasonable or necessary, including providing enforcement assistance, unless at a place of worship; or
• permitting immigration officers to enter a jail to enforce immigration law.

Answer: No. Officers are not required to ask for documentation of citizenship or legal status of persons who are detained or in their custody. UHPD does not generally ask for proof of citizenship; however, it is legally permissible for a police officer to ask for such information. As stated above, UHPD does not have a policy or practice which limits an officer from inquiring. Such a policy would be prohibited by this law.

Answer: SB 4 allows police to ask about the immigration status of a person under lawful detention or under arrest. Lawful detention means you have been detained by the police for the investigation of a criminal offense, unless the sole reason you are detained is that you are a victim or a witness, or that you are reporting a crime.

Answer: The University of Houston is committed to fair treatment of all students. In addition, SB 4 expressly forbids racial profiling or other discrimination by officers. The University’s commitment to these ideals is encompassed in the UH Diversity and Inclusion Statement below.

Answer: A law enforcement officer may not inquire about the immigration status of a victim or of a witness unless it is necessary to investigate the offense, or to provide them with information about federal visas designed to protect individuals assisting law enforcement.

Additionally, the police department may prohibit a peace officer from assisting federal immigration authorities at a place of worship.

University of Houston Campus

FOR STUDENTS:

Answer: UHPD does not function as an immigration force, nor does it serve to facilitate an environment of fear. UHPD officers are not proactively checking the immigration status of students, faculty, staff, vendors, visitors, persons reporting crimes, or victims of crimes. UHPD policy is to comply with the law. UHPD is not issuing any restrictions that are incongruent with the law. If you are subject to a lawful detention or under arrest, any officer, including campus police, cannot be prohibited from asking about your immigration status, sending the information to ICE, maintaining the information, or exchanging the information with another agency. The law also provides that once ICE is contacted and ICE provides a “detainer” then the agency has to honor the detainer request. The law requires UHPD to comply if ICE were to make a reasonable specific request to provide enforcement assistance.

Answer: If you have been granted DACA then you can communicate that fact if stopped by the police. Show the officer your Employment Authorization Document (EAD) and explain you have DACA, which provides for lawful presence here in the U.S. You should always carry your original official approval notice from USCIS for DACA, as well as your EAD, and also your official identification on you at all times.

Answer: The University of Houston Law Center’s immigration clinic is available to UH students from any campus who need a free intake consultation. Appointments can be scheduled by calling the clinic main number at (713) 743-2094. Be sure to indicate you are a student with the UH System and ask for an intake consultation.

The Urban Experience Program (UEP) in the UH Division of Student Affairs complements the larger mission of the University of Houston by expanding opportunities for the university's diverse student population by preventing minor obstacles from becoming major setbacks to degree achievement. The priority at UEP is to help students thrive by offering a variety of services that students need to get the most out of their college experience and prepare for a successful future. The UEP Office is located in Student Service Center 1, Bldg., 524, Room 302; email: UEPUH@central.uh.edu; phone 713-743-6032; UEP DACA website: http://www.uh.edu/uep/events_programs/daca.html.

The Center for Diversity and Inclusion (CDI) provides workshops, programs, student leadership opportunities, and safe space environments to promote cross-cultural communication and culturally-responsive practices that help diverse communities connect. CDI is located in the Student Center South, Suite B12; email: uhcdi@central.uh.edu; website: www.uh.edu/cdi.

The Center for Diversity and Inclusion along with a committee of students, faculty and staff created the DREAMzone Ally Training modeled after Arizona State University’s DREAMzone Training. The workshop educates the University of Houston community about the undocumented student experience, discusses the challenges that undocumented students and their families may face, and provides local and national resources that assist undocumented students through their collegiate journey. The goal of this training is to create a more inclusive campus environment for undocumented students who are often considered an invisible population.

For a list of trainings this fall please visit- http://www.uh.edu/cdi/resources/dream_scholars.html

DREAMzone Ally Training:

September 19^th -12:00pm-1:00pm
Student Center South-Bayou City Room

October 26^th-4:00pm-5:00pm
Student Center South-Bayou City Room

Answer: No. SB 4 says that law enforcement agencies, including campus police, are prohibited from preventing an officer from asking about a person’s immigration status once they have been lawfully detained or arrested. This provision should not impact a student’s academic freedom to express their views in a classroom setting. The First Amendment will continue to apply equally to all students.

Answer: No. As a public university, UH opens its doors to all individuals, and accepts for admission those students who meet the academic qualifications. Indeed, diversity is one of the cornerstones of a UH education. As part of that foundation, UH embraces and encourages DREAMers (also referred to at times as DACA students) and provides opportunities that have been available for a number of years. UH will continue, as always, to provide in-state tuition and financial aid for Texas DREAMers that qualify.

Answer: Questions that directly relate to situations regarding the police and immigration matters can be emailed to police@uh.edu. In-progress emergencies should be reported via the UHPD main telephone number (713) 743-3333.

FOR FACULTY:

Answer: No. The very limited exception to this inquiry is if the faculty or staff works in a capacity to assist DACA students or otherwise assist with immigration questions.

Answer: The University of Houston Law Center’s immigration clinic is available to UH students from any campus who need a free intake consultation. Appointments can be scheduled by calling the clinic main number at (713) 743-2094. Be sure to indicate you are a student with the UH System and ask for an intake consultation.

The Urban Experience Program (UEP) in the UH Division of Student Affairs compliments the larger mission of the University of Houston by expanding opportunities for the university's diverse student population by preventing minor obstacles from becoming major setbacks to degree achievement. The priority at UEP is to help students thrive by offering a variety of services that students need to get the most out of their college experience and prepare for a successful future. The UEP Office is located in Student Service Center 1, Bldg., 524, Room 302; email: UEPUH@central.uh.edu; phone 713-743-6032; UEP DACA website: http://www.uh.edu/uep/events_programs/daca.html.

The Center for Diversity and Inclusion (CDI) provides workshops, programs, student leadership opportunities, and safe space environments to promote cross-cultural communication and culturally-responsive practices that help diverse communities connect. CDI is located in the Student Center South, Suite B12; email: uhcdi@central.uh.edu; website: www.uh.edu/cdi.

The Center for Diversity and Inclusion along with a committee of students, faculty and staff created the DREAMzone Ally Training modeled after Arizona State University’s DREAMzone Training. The workshop educates the University of Houston community about the undocumented student experience, discusses the challenges that undocumented students and their families may face, and provides local and national resources that assist undocumented students through their collegiate journey. The goal of this training is to create a more inclusive campus environment for undocumented students who are often considered an invisible population.

For a list of trainings this fall please visit- http://www.uh.edu/cdi/resources/dream_scholars.html

DREAMzone Ally Training:

September 19^th -12:00pm-1:00pm
Student Center South-Bayou City Room

October 26^th-4:00pm-5:00pm
Student Center South-Bayou City Room

Answer: If you are concerned that an individual’s rights are being violated, you can file a report with the Fraud & Non-Compliance Hotline by logging on to www.Convercent.com/report, or calling 1-800-461-9330 to make a report 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The call center supports more than 300+ languages. Your confidential report will be forwarded to appropriate individuals within the University.

Answer: First, only a federal official can ascertain someone’s status, and these students, like any others, are protected by federal and state privacy laws. Teaching students is not harboring, even if you genuinely know that a student is undocumented.

UH Diversity and Inclusion Statement

The University of Houston embraces diversity and recognizes our responsibility to foster an open, welcoming environment where students, faculty and staff of all backgrounds can collaboratively learn, work and serve. We value the academic, social, and broader community benefits that arise from a diverse campus and are committed to equity, inclusion and accountability. Diversity enriches our university community and is a driving force instrumental to our institutional success and fulfillment of the university’s mission. We commit to engaging in an ongoing dialogue to thoughtfully respond to the changing realities of our increasingly interconnected world. We will continually strive to work together to address the challenges of the future in a way that removes barriers to success and promotes a culture of inclusivity, compassion and mutual respect. The competencies gained through diverse experiences across campus prepare all of our students, staff and faculty to thrive personally and professionally in a global society.