The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday extended a freeze on a new Texas immigration law that allows local police to arrest immigrants who enter the country illegally. new york post report.
Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito extended the moratorium on Texas Senate Bill 4 indefinitely while the court continues to evaluate the bill.
“The suspension issued on March 4, 2024, is hereby ordered to be extended until further order of the undersigned or the court,” Alito’s order Monday said.
Republican Gov. Greg Abbott signed SB4 into law in December. The bill would allow state and local law enforcement officials to arrest, detain, prosecute, and deport illegal immigrants. The Biden administration sued Texas in January over the law, arguing that it “invades federally occupied fields” and “contradicts various provisions of state law.” [Immigration and Nationality Act]. ”
SB4 was scheduled to go into effect in early March, but was previously temporarily suspended by the Supreme Court until March 18. The court’s latest order puts the law on hold indefinitely.
United States District Judge David Ezra granted the injunction. In February, he argued that the state had failed to prove that the federal government had “abandoned” its borders. He accused Texas officials of confusing “figurative and literal.”
“Contrary to Texas’ position, the record is replete with examples and evidence of the federal government conducting immigration operations,” he argued. “While Texas may disagree with diplomatic efforts or challenge their effectiveness, it cannot in good faith claim that those efforts amount to ‘abandonment.’
The state of Texas has confirmed its intention to appeal the Ezra ruling and take the case all the way to the Supreme Court.
“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 at the time. “Texas has the right to protect itself as President Biden continues to neglect his duty to protect the state from invasion at its southern border.”
Sen. Brian Hughes, a Republican who co-authored the bill, said he was optimistic the courts would ultimately side with Texas.
On Monday, Mr. Abbott spoke about the court’s recent extension of the injunction. X.
“While SCOTUS has temporarily suspended enforcement of SB 4, Texas continues to use its authority to arrest illegal immigrants for being in the country illegally and violating other laws,” Abbott wrote. “We keep building walls, [National Guard] A razor wire barrier has been erected to deter migrants, and buoys remain in the river. ”
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