Farouk For Governor

Since Texas is a border state, it has always been involved in the endless debates over what to do about the increasing violence driven by drugs in Mexico, kidnappings, border-killings, international terrorism and other issues that are border related. Every Texan has the right to know what those running for public office are planning on doing about this particular incessant issue once and for all, and how exactly they plan on going about it. It was along this same lines that the gubernatorial nominee, Bill White’s campaign team received a letter from a concerned Texan. The letter’s main aim was to interrogate how the nominee planned on getting rid of the border-related issues.

Unfortunately though, the candidate’s team gave a very vague answer that inspired no confidence on the part of the electorate and formed a significant part of the Republican’s attack arsenal. Bill White has continued receiving fire on his reputation as the Mayor of Houston. Republicans claimed that under his tenure, Houston became a sanctuary city, something they claimed they were not ready to see done to Texas’ policies. They further accused Bill White of being a liberal democrat who was not dedicated to strengthening the nation and state’s security. Even though most of the statements that were made by the Republicans were rebuffed by Bill White as being political statements that didn’t have any content in them at all, there were some facts that are immutably true.

According to the U.S State Department of Justice, for instance,  a sanctuary city is one that is characterized by local ordinances, state laws or departmental policies that restrict law enforcement agencies from enforcing immigration legislation. The Houston Police Department does not play any active role in the enforcement of immigration laws as General Order 500-5 forbids them to. During his tenure as Mayor of Houston, Bill White constantly brushed aside calls from various interest groups including the community to have  General Order 500-5 lifted. In addition, he refused to heed calls from the Houston Police Department to put an end to sanctuary policies. The fact that he refused to listen to his very own officers, is an indictment in his integrity as a public official.

In his run as a gubernatorial candidate, Bill White believed that the best way to enforce immigration laws was by having a smart fence built. However, even his own party leaders including the President, were opposed against this idea. Bill White said absolutely nothing to indicate that he was opposed to their rejection of the smart fence idea.