Quick Hit

A federal judge has blocked a Texas law that would allow state police to arrest illegal migrants, arguing that it interferes with federal jurisdiction over immigration matters. The law, introduced by Governor Greg Abbott, was set to go into effect in March but has been halted following lawsuits by the Department of Justice and civil rights groups.

Key Details

• The law, known as SB4, would make illegal entry into the US a state crime, punishable by up to 20 years in prison.
• Judge David A. Ezra ruled that the law interferes with the federal government's powers to enforce immigration laws and the ability of migrants to apply for asylum.
• Gov. Abbott has vowed to appeal the ruling, arguing that Texas has the constitutional right to defend itself due to the Biden administration's failure to enforce federal immigration laws.

Diving Deeper

The law was introduced by Gov. Abbott, who has taken a hardline stance on immigration. Abbott has sent busloads of migrants to Democrat-controlled cities, installled a floating barrier in the Rio Grande, and stretched razor wire across the US-Mexico border. The SB4 law was seen as a further measure to deter illegal immigration.

However, the law has been met with fierce opposition from civil rights groups and the Department of Justice, who argue that it infringes on federal jurisdiction over immigration matters. In his ruling, Judge Ezra agreed, stating that the law would interfere with the federal government's powers to enforce immigration laws and the ability of migrants to apply for asylum.

Gov. Abbott has vowed to fight the ruling, arguing that Texas has the constitutional right to defend itself due to the Biden administration's failure to enforce federal immigration laws. He has also accused the administration of failing in its duty to protect states, citing the case of a Venezuelan migrant accused of murder who had entered the US illegally and was not properly detained due to overcrowding at Border Patrol facilities.

The battle over the law has escalated tensions between Texas and the Biden administration over the border crisis. Despite the legal setback, Gov. Abbott has vowed to continue his efforts to secure the border and deter illegal immigration.

The ruling comes as the crisis at the southern border shows no signs of abating, with the Border Patrol reporting more than 890,000 apprehensions of suspected illegal migrants between October 2023 and February. An additional 120,000 people were able to successfully sneak into the US during the same time period, according to Border Patrol Chief Jason Owens.

"Welcome to Texas sign in Texarkana TX" by Thomas R Machnitzki licensed under CC BY 3.0 DEED.