Protesters show up to speak against SB4 on first day of the Houston Rodeo

Local advocates rallied against a state law that criminalizes entering Texas from Mexico without authorization across the street from the annual event.

Patricia Ortiz

| February 28, 2024, 7:06 AM

Advocates rally across the street from the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo — Advocates are rallying against a law that allows a judge to be able to order an immigrant go back to Mexico, regardless of their nationality.

On Tuesday, the first day of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, local advocates rallied against a state law that criminalizes entering Texas from Mexico without authorization across the street from the annual event.

Senate Bill 4 was signed into law by Governor Greg Abbott in December. The new law would also authorize a judge or magistrate to order a migrant to return to Mexico, regardless of their nationality.

Damaris Gonzalez is a Statewide Immigration Lead Organizer with the Texas Organizing Project and a DACA recipient. She said the rally was held across the street from the Rodeo to inform people like her.

“It’s really important that they know their rights because we don’t know for sure if SB4 will be implemented,” she said. “… We’re living in moments of urgency and uncertainty because we will continue to see an increase in deportations.”

The Texas Organizing Project works with Black and Latino communities in Dallas, Harris, and Bexar counties; they plan to rally in Austin on March 9th.

Jasmine Tellez is an advocate with Texas Rising, an organization that advocates for equality and social justice. She said she comes from a mixed-status family, and her parents came to the United States to escape harsh living conditions.

“I see how hard my family works. I see how hard they try to fit in with American culture. I see how much they love Texas, and they love the United States, only to see him targeted and dehumanized by the laws of this state,” she said. “And I am just standing up and fighting against these laws that do not reflect my values.”

Advocates also said Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers were recruiting at the Rodeo in 2017. Tellez said their presence could make some people feel unsafe.

“That’s why we chose to do it today, to remind our community that the Houston Rodeo brings in a diverse audience,” she said. “And Tejano Day is one of the bigger days that brings in our Latino community. We want Harris County and Houston to be a safe space for all Texans.”

Some vendors at the Rodeo say Go Tejano Day and Black Heritage Day usually bring in larger crowds to the Rodeo than other days.

Senate Bill 4 is scheduled to go into effect next Tuesday.