Families From Five States, D.C. To Arrive In Austin Protesting Senate Bill 4

AUSTIN, TX — Families traveling by bus from several states will descend upon Austin on Friday to rally against Senate Bill 4, a recently signed law that cracks down on so-called "sanctuary cities," officials said.

Throughout the course of the weekend, some 200 people will arrive from Arizona, Georgia, Florida, Washington, D.C., New Jersey and New York "...to stand with Texas immigrant families," officials at the Workers Defense Project, an Austin-based immigrants advocacy group, said.

The influx of out-of-state visitors to Austin is in preparation for a protest of SB4 scheduled at the Texas Capitol on May 29, WDP officials said.

The theme of the protest will be: "Texas Fights Back."

Recently signed into law by Gov. Greg Abbott, SB4 seeks to crack down on undocumented immigrants living in Texas with sanctions on jurisdictions viewed as non-compliant with federal immigration officials in detaining migrants at their behest.

Set to take effect on Sept. 1, the law carries penalties for law enforcement officials deemed non-cooperative with federal agents, including fines of up to $25,000 and even jail time. Campus police at universities are also commanded to comply with the law as outlined by its provisions.

The first group of people arriving in Austin poised to protest the new law hail from Arizona, while those from the other states and D.C. will arrive throughout the weekend, WDP officials said. Immigrant families will be joined by DREAMers, WDP officials, and representatives from United We Dream, Texas Organizing Project, Education Austin and the University Leadership Initiative.

The group from Arizona will be welcomed at WDP headquarters, 5604 Manor Rd., on Friday afternoon after which they will be making banners and signs for the rally, officials said.

Related story: Texas Governor Signs Far-Reaching Anti-Immigration Law On Facebook Live

>>> Photo from a previous protest march by Tony Cantú