TYLER, Texas (KETK) – The same day Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed Senate Bill 4 into law, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed a law suit requesting it be declared constitutional.

SB4 bans sanctuary cities in the state of Texas. It requires all Texas law enforcement agencies to hold arrested persons until their immigration status is checked with ICE.

Attorney General Paxton tells KETK he took this swift action to avoid multiple law suits all over the state.

“It’s difficult when you have cities that are basically not helping or making it difficult for law enforcement to do their job and so this bill says hey, cities counties cannot stop law enforcement from asking questions,” AG Paxton said.

He spoke in Tyler Monday night at a Grassroots America We The People meeting.

KETK asked East Texans their opinions on it.

“I have mixed emotions about it,” James Sellars said. “I’m opposed to sanctuary cities but I believe that most political decisions should be made as close to home as possible.”

“Being retired military I don’t believe sanctuary cities should be allowed anywhere in our country,” Jim Snow said.

The Attorney General’s O ffice also recently ruled that documents and videos of closed meetings by Smith County commissioners could be released.

This follows the sunshine law, requiring openness in government.

“We follow the law, but typically the law is very open towards that type of process and transparency,” AG Paxton said.

It is a decision fully supported by Grassroots America We the People.

“People deserve and have a right to know how and why elected officials spend our tax dollars,” Executive Director JoAnn Fleming said.

The Attorney General says one of his main goals is to open up the process at the federal level and stop agencies from overstepping their power.