Stephen A. Smith Rips Texas Gov. Greg Abbott Over Signing of New Immigration Bill: ‘It’s Inhumane’

Stephen A. Smith called out Texas Gov. Greg Abbott for signing a bill into law making illegal immigration a state crime.

Senate Bill 4, commonly shortened to SB4, allows state law enforcement to arrest and detain migrants. That responsibility has historically been reserved for federal authorities.

On Tuesday’s episode of The Stephen A. Smith Show, Smith argued the legislation could set a dangerous precedent.

“This bad, ladies and gentlemen,” Smith said. “This is a disgrace. It’s inhumane; and it opens the floodgate to further divide our nation because when you have law enforcement that literally can arrest people over a ‘suspicion,’ think about that for a second. People can be arrested who are suspected of entering the country illegally.

“Do you realize that means a law enforcement official can walk up to somebody (and say), ‘Alright, they look Hispanic. OK, their English is broken. They don’t speak fluent English. So that can be a cause for me to arrest them.'”

Smith added that a number of legal fees — including bail and hiring an attorney — would only compound issues for those arrested under the new law.

“It’s racist!” Smith said. “Somebody needs to say it, so I’m gonna say it! It’s a racist-ass thing to do! Suspicion? Suspected of entering the country illegally? How can you be suspected of entering the country illegally?

“So, you’re chilling in downtown Dallas or Houston. You’re hanging out with a bunch of folks. You’re speaking Spanish instead of English. Your clothes might not be a Tom Ford suit or something. You might not be wearing a Jordan sweatsuit. You might look a little poor and impoverished, a bit haggard or haphazard. You might not look the part. That’s a suspicion. They can literally label that a suspicion to justify arresting you. Not questioning you, not asking for an ID. They literally can arrest you!”

Watch above via YouTube.