SB4, the controversial Texas immigration law that allows police to arrest suspected illegal migrants and for judges to deport them, has temporarily been blocked by the US Supreme Court. This ruling reverses a previous 5th Circuit Court of Appeals decision to let the law take effect as soon as this Saturday.

The 5th Circuit reversed a previous decision by a federal judge who ruled that the law "threatens the fundamental notion that the United States must regulate immigration with one voice." Now, that decision has been reversed by the Supreme Court, which is now considering permanently blocking the controversial Texas immigration law.

Senate Bill 4, or SB4, was Texas Governor Greg Abbott's attempt to deter migrants from crossing the US-Mexico border and into Texas. It would have allowed Texas authorities, from police to the National Guard, to arrest people they suspect are illegal migrants. These suspected migrants are then brought before a judge with two options: voluntarily leave the country or be forcefully deported and slapped with a misdemeanor. Repeat offenders will be charged with a felony, according to the Texas Tribune.

As for the Supreme Court order, the highest court in the land issued a temporary stay until March 13 as the nine Supreme Court justices consider either permanently blocking the law or allowing Texas to enforce it.

Texas is facing several lawsuits over SB4, including one from the US Department of Justice. Several rights groups are also suing the state over the law, including the ACLU and the Texas Civil Rights Project on behalf of El Paso County and two immigrant rights organizations, Las Americas Immigrant Advocacy Center and American Gateways.

The US Justice Department's Arguments Vs. Controversial Texas Immigration Law SB4

In its argument to the Supreme Court about why SB4 should be junked, the Justice Department stated 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."

According to the Associated Press, The DOJ also argued that the controversial Texas immigration law would have "significant and immediate adverse effects" on the country's relationship with Mexico. It would also "create chaos" in enforcing federal immigration laws in Texas as jurisdictions would clash, and Texas might deport asylum seekers who are lawfully in the country, as well as actual US citizens.

It also cited a 2012 Supreme Court ruling regarding Arizona's failed effort to implement such measures, which the court ruled against the state's so-called "show me your papers" bill, which is similar to what Texas is trying to implement.

Federal Judge Debunks Texas State Argument of 'Invasion' to Justify SB4

When US District Judge David Ezra ruled against Texas on the grounds that it is the federal government's jurisdiction to enforce immigration and not the state's, he also threw out one of the arguments that Texas made to support its claims, and that was that Texas was facing an invasion.

"I haven't seen and the state of Texas can't point me to any type of military invasion in Texas," he said in his decision, but acknowledged that there are a high number of crossings and that "Texas is definitely under pressure." However, he ultimately e rejected the state's characterizations, saying there is no evidence Texas is at war.

KUT News noted that the "invasion" rhetoric has been especially harmful to the El Paso community, which is along the border and is made up of mostly Latino US citizens.

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This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

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