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Some Hispanic Evangelical Ministers who have previously supported Rick Perry are organizing against him just as Perry considers a run for the White House. KERA's Shelley Kofler says Perry's sanctuary cities legislation is at issue.
June 20, 2011 · Thursday night at a Dallas Hotel, Pastor Lynn Godsey of Ennis lead some 80 Hispanic evangelical ministers and parishioners in prayer.
They prayed in Spanish for divine support as they organize opposition to sanctuary city legislation Governor Perry has asked lawmakers to pass.
Godsey, President of the Hispanic Evangelical Alliance of DFW, calls the legislation anti-Hispanic and claims Perry will feel a backlash if he decides to run for President.
"We're asking Governor Perry to please stop using these laws for your political agenda, sir. You might have aspirations to be president, and if that's so that's fine. But please don't come after a race. Don't do it at hurting our families, because you will have to give an account to God."
The sanctuary city legislation awaiting a vote in the Texas House would require cities to allow officers to ask people about their immigration status. Right now, many police don't ask because they say that scares away individuals who might otherwise assist in solving serious crimes.
Reverend Mauricio Elizondo, a Garland pastor, says the sanctuary cities legislation will increase racial profiling and harassment of all Hispanics in Texas.
He says the Hispanic pastors who have gathered are part of the conservative voting block Perry successfully courted during his gubernatorial campaign, a group he may need if he decides to run for President.
"We're conservative, we're fundamentalists, we believe in God, we believe in the sanctity of life. I hope Governor Perry, who I voted for, will not turn his back on us, because he will not win. Any candidate who will run cannot win without the Hispanic vote."
SMU political science professor Cal Jillson says republican candidates are typically getting about a third of the Hispanic vote. And while conservative Hispanics aren't single issue voters, Perry's sanctuary cities push might hurt him in a national campaign.
"He ended up with a sanctuary cities bill that's pretty watered down. Since he didn't get very much out his sanctuary cities push, I think he will conclude down the road that he should have left it alone, because it does endanger that one third of the Hispanic vote that republicans usually get, and he can't afford that."
Godsey says many Hispanic conservatives have been slow to get involved in the election process and vote, but he says the sanctuary cities legislation, like the Arizona immigration measure may change that.
A spokesman for Perry says he pressed for the sanctuary cities policy because it gives law enforcement a tool needed to help protect all Texans.
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