Texas Gov. Greg Abbott told Newsmax TV on Wednesday that he signed the nation's toughest law banning sanctuary jurisdictions in his state because "there has to be consequences for the very dangerous and reckless conduct of allowing sanctuary city policies."
"There are steep penalties – and frankly that is one reason why they are pushing back," Abbott, 59, the first-term Republican, told "The Joe Pags Show" in an interview.
"No one is happy whenever they wake up and find there's a new law passed that can put them in jail, but that's how serious we are about this."
Abbott signed the legislation on Sunday, which allows Texas authorities to seek the immigration status of any detainees and requires police chiefs and sheriffs to comply with federal requests to hold criminal suspects for possible deportation.
Those not cooperating face jail, removal from office and agency fines of as much as $25,000 a day.
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"It's not the job of the federal government," Abbott told Pags. "It's the job imposed by the state of Texas.
"Now that it's the state law, if these law enforcement officers don't want to do it, they need to get out of the job of law enforcement.
"I strongly support legal immigration," he added. "Immigration has helped make this great nation.
"But there is a difference between legal immigration and harboring criminals who are wanted by the federal government who pose a danger to our community."