Supreme Court temporarily blocks Texas law that allows police to arrest migrants
Source: AP
Updated 6:53 PM EST, March 4, 2024
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) Texas plan to arrest migrants who enter the U.S. illegally is headed to the Supreme Court in a legal showdown over the federal governments authority over immigration. The high court on Monday blocked Texas immigration law from going into effect until March 13 and asked the state to respond by March 11. The law was set to take effect Saturday, and the courts decision came just hours after the Justice Department asked it to intervene.
Republican Gov. Greg Abbott signed the law in December and for months has unveiled a series of escalating measures on the border that have tested the boundaries of how far a state can go keep migrants from entering the country.
The law would allow state officers to arrest people suspected of entering the country illegally. People who are arrested could then agree to a Texas judges order to leave the country or face a misdemeanor charge for entering the U.S. illegally. Migrants who dont leave after being ordered to do so could be arrested again and charged with a more serious felony.
The Justice Department told the Supreme Court that the law would profoundly alter the status quo that has existed between the United States and the States in the context of immigration for almost 150 years. It went on to argue that the law would have significant and immediate adverse effects on the countrys relationship with Mexico and create chaos in enforcing federal immigration laws in Texas.
Read more: https://apnews.com/article/texas-law-arrest-migrants-ruling-fd9e25f3a49a67eb735a12fa7938fdfa
Reference - https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143203732
Article updated.
Original article -
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) Texas plan to arrest migrants who enter the U.S. illegally is headed to the Supreme Court in a legal showdown over the federal governments authority over immigration. The high court on Monday blocked Texas immigration law from going into effect until March 13 and asked the state to respond by March 11. The law was set to take effect Saturday, and the courts decision came just hours after the Justice Department asked it to intervene.
Republican Gov. Greg Abbott signed the law in December and for months has unveiled a series of escalating measures on the border that have tested the boundaries of how far a state can go keep migrants from entering the country.
The law would allow state officers to arrest people suspected of entering the country illegally. Under the law, people who are arrested could then agree to a Texas judges order to leave the country or face a misdemeanor charge for entering the U.S. illegally. Migrants who dont leave after being ordered to do so could be arrested again and charged with a more serious felony.
The Justice Department told the Supreme Court that the law would profoundly alter the status quo that has existed between the United States and the States in the context of immigration for almost 150 years. It went on to argue that the law would have significant and immediate adverse effects on the countrys relationship with Mexico and create chaos in enforcing federal immigration laws in Texas.
Lovie777
(12,374 posts)(this happened with lightning speed and have been waiting for Bloomberg to update their article although theirs has some good background on it)
LetMyPeopleVote
(145,722 posts)I cannot believe that the 5th Circuit Court was going to let this law go into effect.
Link to tweet
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/supreme-court/biden-administration-asks-supreme-court-block-texas-immigration-law-rcna141761
In an order issued by conservative Justice Samuel Alito, the court froze a lower court decision that would have allowed the law to go into effect on Sunday.
The ruling is now blocked until March 13, giving all nine justices more time to determine what next steps to take.
Alito also ordered Texas to respond to the Biden administration request by March 11.
The law in question, known as SB4, allows police to arrest migrants who illegally cross the border from Mexico and imposes criminal penalties.
The dispute is the latest clash between the Biden administration and Texas over immigration enforcement on the U.S.-Mexico border.
A federal judge blocked the law after the Biden administration sued, but the New Orleans-based 5th U.S. Circuit in a brief order said it could go into effect on March 10 if the Supreme Court declines to intervene.