Federal Judge BLOCKS Police From Arresting Illegal Migrants

A Texas state law that permitted the arrest of foreign nationals who crossed the U.S. Southern Border illegally has been blocked by a federal judge. U.S. District Judge David A. Ezra of the Western District of Texas issued a preliminary injunction, preventing state officials from enforcing the law known as Senate Bill 4.

This law aimed to make illegal immigration a state crime and would have allowed state authorities to arrest and detain illegal aliens. Additionally, it would have granted state judges the authority to order deportations. In his ruling, Judge Ezra emphasized that immigration enforcement power is solely authorized by the federal government, and states like Texas cannot exercise such power independently.

Although Texas has the option to appeal the decision, the injunction was issued in response to a lawsuit filed by Immigration and civil rights groups against the state. The lawsuit was initiated after Republican Governor Gregg Abbott signed the law in December, stating that its purpose was to curb illegal entry into Texas. According to the law, migrants in Texas custody would have had to comply with a judge’s order to leave the U.S. or face misdemeanor charges for illegal entry. Failure to comply could result in arrest on more severe felony charges.

The Texas law represents a significant move by the state to enforce immigration regulations. Governor Abbott has consistently criticized President Biden’s administration for their perceived lack of action in addressing the border crisis. As part of their efforts, Texas has transported over 65,000 migrants to various cities across the country and implemented razor wire along the Rio Grande.

Critics have labeled this measure as the most extreme attempt by a state to crack down on immigrants since Arizona’s “Show Me Your Papers” bill in 2010, although the U.S. Supreme Court largely invalidated that bill. In a letter signed by thirty former U.S. immigration judges from both Republican and Democratic administrations, the measure was condemned as unconstitutional.

Ezra, a Reagan appointee and former Chief Judge for the United States District Court for the District of Hawaii, stated that the Texas law contradicts the U.S. Constitution and federal immigration law, which could negatively impact the country’s foreign relations and treaty obligations. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), Department of Justice, and other organizations have filed lawsuits against Texas, arguing that the law is unconstitutional.