Houston mayor faulted over access to city services
May 19, 2009
Just weeks after Mayor Bill White did an about-face by supporting immigration screening at the city jails - much to the joy of anti-illegal immigration activists - he found himself again accused of running a 'sanctuary city.'
This time, the controversy stemmed from a seemingly innocuous mission statement for a small city agency, the Mayor's Office for Immigrant and Refugee Affairs. The statement, posted on the city's Web site, said the office encouraged access to city services and benefits for all residents - regardless of their 'current citizenship status.'
City officials recently purged the Web site of the phrase, but the episode sparked a broader debate about illegal immigrants' access to city services, such as non-emergency medical clinic visits, housing programs, English classes and assistance for crime victims.
The Houston Chronicle
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