A federal judge blocks a Texas law that would allow law enforcement to arrest illegal immigrants

A federal judge on Thursday blocked a Texas law that allows local police to arrest migrants who enter the state illegally.

U.S. District Court Judge David Alan Ezra, a Reagan appointee, said in a 114-page message decision that the law, SB 4, “threatens the fundamental notion that the United States must regulate immigration with one voice.” He issued a preliminary injunction that blocked the law from taking effect while the case continued, found that Texas was “unlikely to succeed on the merits” and noted that the government would “suffer serious irreparable harm” if the law went into effect in force

“If allowed to proceed, SB 4 could open the door for each state to pass its own version of immigration laws,” Ezra wrote. “The effect would challenge uniform immigration regulation across the country and force the federal government to navigate a patchwork of inconsistent regulations.”

Breakdown: A district judge has granted the federal government's request for a preliminary injunction #SB4the recently passed #txlege border bill

“Ultimately, it is clear that claimants, particularly the US, will suffer serious and irreparable harm if SB4… pic.twitter.com/kbTmbEdRcn

— Brad Johnson (@bradj_TX) February 29, 2024

abbot signed the bill in December as part of a border security package in response to register number of illegal border crossings.

“The Court sympathizes with Texas' border concerns, but to say the Biden administration has 'abandoned' the immigration field is to take the hyperbolic criticism at face value,” Ezra wrote. “Contrary to Texas' position, the record is replete with examples and evidence of the federal government meeting its immigration obligations.”

Biden's Department of Justice (DOJ) sued the state in January, claiming the state law was preempted by federal law and violates the Constitution. So does the ACLU sued the state the day after the abbot signed the law.

Katelynn Richardson's latest posts (see everything)

We have zero tolerance for comments that contain violence, racism, profanity, profanity, doxing, or rude behavior. If a comment is spam, instead of replying to it, click the ∨ icon below and to the right of that comment. Thank you for engaging with us in a fruitful conversation.