The Supreme Court of the United States, in a divided vote, approved this Tuesday to lift the suspension of a Texas law that gives police broad powers to arrest migrants suspected of crossing the border illegallywhile the legal battle over immigration continues.
The legislation, known as SB4, may come into effect while arguments are heard in a lawsuit filed by President Joe Biden’s government and migrant advocacy organizations.
The law allows any Texas police officer to arrest migrants for illegal entry into the country. A judge could then order the migrants to leave.
Texas has argued that it has the right to take action for what state authorities call a crisis at the border.
President Joe Biden’s administration has sued to overturn the law, arguing it is a clear violation of federal authoritywhich would harm international relations and create chaos in the application of immigration laws.
The battle over Texas immigration law It is one of several between the Texas governor and the Biden administration over how far the state can go to patrol the border with Mexico and prevent illegal crossings.
The governor of Texas, Greg Abbotthas described the situation at the border as “an invasion” of migrants.
What does the Texas law say about immigration?
The law, one of the most drastic anti-immigrant measures in the history of the United States, makes it a misdemeanor for a foreign person to “enter or attempt to enter the state from a foreign nation” irregularly. The offense becomes a serious crime, punishable by up to 20 years in prison.if the offender is a repeat offender.
The initiative also allows the state Justice to order the expulsion of people without legal process. In addition, Police officers may arrest any individual they suspect of entering the country illegally, and they will have the discretion to expel him to Mexico instead of arresting him.
Initially, the measure promoted by Greg Abbott was to come into effect on March 5, but a federal judge sided with the plaintiffs and prohibited it.
The Texas prosecutor, Ken Paxton, took the fight to the Fifth Circuit of Appeals where he obtained support, so the plaintiffs went to the Supreme Court to prevent the law from coming into effect by requesting an emergency motion, which was finally denied.
Anand Balakrishnan, senior attorney at the ACLU Immigrants’ Rights Project, called Tuesday’s decision “disappointing.”
The lawyer added in a statement that the law “threatens the integrity of our nation’s immigration laws and the fundamental principles of due process” so they will continue to fight until it is defeated.
With information from EFE.
