Texas governor plans to end sanctuary cities in state

AUSTIN, Texas, Nov. 28 (UPI) -- Texas Gov. Greg Abbott says he wants to ban cities from sheltering illegal immigrants in his state.

"I'm going to sign a law that bans sanctuary cities," the Republican tweeted Sunday. "Also I've already issued an order cutting funding to sanctuary cities."

Abbott, who previously was the state's attorney general, responded to a Twitter user who wanted to know whether he would do anything to reverse a pledge in the state capital to remain a sanctuary city.

In a later tweet, he said, "I deployed National Guard & added DPS Officers to the border & filed the suit that halted [Barack] Obama's illegal amnesty order. "

Abbott also is optimistic Trump's election means Texas can decrease its border security campaign, which costs $800 million in the current two-year budget.

Abbott "is hopeful that President-elect Trump will implement a border security policy that eases the enormous financial burden Texas taxpayers have shouldered due to the current administration's dereliction of duty," Abbott spokesman Sam Taylor said in a statement last week. "The governor looks forward to working with the president elect to secure our southern border once and for all."

Trump had pledged to withhold federal dollars from cities that give sanctuary to undocumented immigrants. During the campaign, he said he would deport millions of undocumented immigrants. Then, after the election Trump said in an interview he would first deal with those who were members of gangs or had criminal records.

After the election, Democratic governors and mayors pledged to continue sanctuary cities.

"For all those who are, after Tuesday's election, very nervous, filled with anxiety as we've spoken to, you are safe in Chicago, you are secure in Chicago and you are supported in Chicago," Mayor Rahm Emanuel said at an event in his city. "Administrations may change, but our values and principles as it relates to inclusion does not."