John Culberson: “the State of Texas today executed one of the most dangerous, vicious killers in our State's history. Maturino Resendiz…”

“the State of Texas today executed one of the most dangerous, vicious killers in our State's history. Maturino Resendiz was known as the ``Railway Killer.'' He had killed repeatedly. He was a serial killer who had been arrested and deported seven times prior to the murder of Dr. Claudia Benton in Houston. This individual was present in the United States illegally, but the City of Houston has a policy, in violation of Federal law, that prohibits Houston police officers from asking whether or not an individual they pick up is in the United States illegally. The Federal law is very clear that local governments, local law enforcement agencies, cannot have any policy that prohibits or restricts the ability of a police officer from determining someone's presence in the country, whether or not they are legal. And my amendment simply enforces existing Federal law and makes it clear that, in order for a local government or police agency to receive Federal money, they must comply with Federal law and follow Federal law in determining whether or not the person they have detained is here illegally. The City of Los Angeles has a similar policy. Yet 95 percent of their outstanding warrants for homicide are for illegal aliens. This is a law and order amendment, Mr. Chairman. I reserve the balance of my time.”