U.S. Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito intervened, temporarily halting a Texas law designed to enhance border enforcement efforts. The law, known as SB4, would grant state officials extensive powers to arrest, prosecute, and expel individuals crossing the border illegally from Mexico.
Alito’s action came at the request of President Joe Biden‘s administration, following a decision by the New Orleans-based 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
The 5th Circuit had paused a federal judge’s ruling, enabling SB4 to potentially take effect. Alito’s order, effective until March 13, temporarily suspends the law’s implementation, with potential further action pending from the full Supreme Court.
The Biden administration contends that SB4 interferes unlawfully with federal immigration enforcement and could strain U.S. relations with Mexico and other nations. The Justice Department argues that the law would disrupt federal immigration efforts and create chaos within Texas.
SB4, if enacted, would criminalize illegal entry or re-entry into Texas from a foreign country, empowering state and local law enforcement to arrest and prosecute offenders. Additionally, it allows state judges to order expulsion, with potential prison sentences of up to 20 years for non-compliance.
Texas officials, including Attorney General Ken Paxton and Governor Greg Abbott, have defended SB4 as necessary amid what they describe as a surge in illegal migration. They attribute this surge to federal inaction, justifying state efforts such as installing barriers at the border.
