October 31, 2011 | Case

Johnson v. City of Houston (No. 10-20743) - Houston, TX sanctuary policies

(Washington, DC) – Judicial Watch filed this lawsuit against the City of Houston, the Houston Police Department and Houston Police Chief Harold Hurtt on behalf of Houston Police Sergeant Joslyn M. Johnson related to the department’s illegal alien sanctuary policies. Sergeant Johnson is the widow of former Houston Police officer Rodney J. Johnson, killed in the line of duty by an illegal alien three years ago, on September 21, 2006.According to the lawsuit, filed in the Harris County, Texas District Court:

Sergeant Johnson challenges current policies, practices, and procedures of the Houston Police Department that substantially restrict, if not prohibit, Plaintiff from communicating with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (“ICE”) about illegal aliens who are criminally present in the United States.Plaintiff does not seek to detain or arrest persons in order to inquire about their immigration status. Rather, Plaintiffs seeks to use her professional judgment to determine when it is appropriate to contact ICE to inquire or provide information about a person’s immigration status if, in the course of carrying out her duties and responsibilities as a law enforcement officer, she has reason to believe a crime may have been committed.

The complaint maintains that Houston’s illegal alien sanctuary policies harm Sergeant Johnson’s ability “to fulfill her oath and otherwise carry out her duties and responsibilities as a law enforcement officer,” while also restricting Sergeant Johnson’s freedom of expression.The court ruled against Sergeant Johnson, and Judicial Watch filed an appeal in the 5th Circuit Court, which ruled in favor of Sergeant Johnson in September 2011.

Appellate Court Rules Lawsuit Challenging Houston’s Illegal Alien Sanctuary Policy Will Continue

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