Under a New State Legislation, Texas Will Arrest Illegal Immigrants Who Cross the Border From Mexico Into Texas unlawfully.
Abbott Signs Bill Making Illegal Immigration a State Crime
In a move that is sure to face court Federal Court challenges, Texas Governor Greg Abbott, on Monday, December 18, signed a bill granting state law enforcement the authority to detain those parties who are suspected of entering the United States specifically Texas, illegally. This new legislation, recently signed into law grants local law enforcement officers powers that have long been granted to the federal government.
Texas Senate Bill 4
The bill, known as SB 4, goes into effect in March 2024 and makes illegal entry from Mexico a new state criminal charge to enter or re-enter Texas illegally. The punishment for this offense can range from 180 days to 20 years in state prison. Texas magistrate judges will have to issue orders for migrants to return to Mexico; those who disobey the orders risk terms of up to 20 years in prison.
Federal rules already allow for the prosecution of illegal immigrants upon their arrival or re-entry, but Abbott has harshly criticized U.S. President Joe Biden purposely for not enforcing these laws.
Abbott’s Statement
Abbott made this statement at a press conference before a section of the state-funded border wall in Brownsville, Texas: “Biden’s deliberate inaction has left Texas to fend for itself.”
In addition, Abbott signed a law allocating another $1.5 billion for border wall construction and related operations on top of the $5 billion in state monies previously set aside for border security. A bill to toughen punishment for human smuggling was signed into law by the Republican governor in late November.
Since Democrat Joe Biden came to power in 2021, an unprecedented number of migrants have been apprehended attempting to enter the United States from Mexico. Republicans like Abbott accuse Biden, who is running for reelection in 2024, of undoing the limiting policies of the front-runner for the Republican Party candidacy, former President Donald Trump.
Republicans in the U.S. Congress have stated that unless a foreign aid package contains stringent new border security measures for the United States, they will not accept it. As a result, the help has been put on hold while a group of senators attempts to reach a compromise.
Texas Border Crisis Under President Biden
Under Biden, more than half of the 5.8 million migrant arrests occurred in Texas and the nearby state of New Mexico, occasionally taxing the capacity of border towns.
Under Operation Lone Star, Texas has experimented with a variety of tactics to discourage illegal immigrants, such as sending National Guard troops to the border, using deadly concertina wire to block migrants, and erecting a floating barrier across a portion of the Rio Grande.
Texas is requesting a review by the entire court, but earlier this month, a three-judge panel of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals determined that Texas must dismantle the floating barrier.
The most notable move taken by the state to relieve pressure on its border cities and Democrat-controlled areas further north is the busing of thousands of migrants.
However, migrants have persisted in crossing.
The American Civil Liberties Union of Texas’ executive director, Oni Blair, has vowed to file a lawsuit against SB 4, claiming that it “overrides federal immigration law” and “fuels racial profiling.”
A Similar Arizona Statute
A similar Arizona statute was partially overturned by the Supreme Court in 2012, including a clause enabling state police to detain individuals they suspected of being in the country illegally.
The 2012 verdict stated that the U.S. immigration system, which Congress set in place, typically did not authorize state officials to undertake warrantless arrests of anyone suspected of being in the country wwsxdcdZ and that the clause conflicted with federal law, which took precedence.
Senate Bill 4 makes it a state criminal to enter the country illegally from Mexico. This new law will surely lead to legal challenges from the federal authorities.
Legislators passed Senate Bill 4 at the third special session of this year, and it will raise the minimum term for running a stash house or smuggling – illegal immigrants from two years to ten years.
Early in March, the rules that make it a state criminal to enter Texas illegally from Mexico will go into force. Early in February, the law against human smuggling takes effect.
While in Brownsville on Monday to sign the bills, Governor Abbott blamed the Democratic President Joe Biden administration’s immigration policy and stated that Texas must protect itself from drug traffickers.
Abbott added, “Biden’s willful inaction has left Texas to fend for itself.”
Beware! Texas Law Enforcement Officers May Now Detain Illegal Immigrants From Mexico
Call Abagodos Michael Piri Immediately! (833) 600-0029
If you are an illegal immigrant or you have been detained by law enforcement in Texas for illegal entry, contact The Piri Law Firm immediately for fast jail release. Call Abagados Michael Piri (833)-600-0029 to get your family member released under pretrial release and before formal deportation.