An appeals court on Saturday reversed a lower court’s decision that blocked Texas from implementing a new state law that would make illegal immigration a state crime.
The 5th Circuit Court of Appeals defied U.S. District Judge David A. Ezra’s order to block Texas Senate Bill 4, but gave its own ruling seven days if the Biden administration wants to appeal to the Supreme Court. I put it on hold.
The new law would allow state authorities to arrest and imprison illegal immigrants and give state judges the power to order deportation.
The law was originally scheduled to take effect on March 5, but has now been delayed until March 9 unless the Supreme Court intervenes.
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Under Texas Senate Bill 4, state authorities can arrest and jail illegal immigrants and allow state judges to order their deportation. (AP Photo/Eric Gay, File)
Ezra, head of the Western District of Texas, ruled last week that “states cannot exercise immigration enforcement powers without the federal government’s permission.”
But Texas Gov. Greg Abbott insisted the state “has the right to protect itself” from invasion at its southern border.
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“Texas intends to immediately appeal this decision and will not back down from the fight to protect our state and nation from President Biden’s border crisis,” Abbott said in a statement at the time.
Asylum seekers cross the Rio Grande River from Mexico into the United States on September 30, 2023 in Eagle Pass, Texas. (John Moore/Getty Images)
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The law is one of several moves by Texas to curb the flow of immigrants into the state. Abbott has repeatedly accused the Biden administration of failing to enforce immigration laws amid record numbers of migrants entering the country and encounters at the southern border.
FOX News’ Luis Casiano contributed to this report.
