Federal judge blocks implementation of controversial Texas immigration law

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A federal judge in Austin, Texas, on Thursday ordered the state government to suspend enforcement of a controversial law that allows state law enforcement officers to arrest and detain people suspected of entering the country illegally.

“If allowed to proceed, SB4 could pave the way for states to pass their own immigration laws,” Judge David Alan Ezra said in granting a preliminary injunction against the law.

The judge rejected the state’s argument that the current flow of migrants across the southern border is an “invasion” and that Texas has the right to unilaterally stop it. “SB 4 threatens the fundamental concept that America must regulate immigration with one voice,” Ezra wrote.

Without action from the courts, the law was scheduled to take effect Tuesday. Plaintiffs include the federal government and El Paso County, which claims the law will lead to thousands of new arrests and strain the jail.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said Thursday the state would appeal the decision. “Texas will immediately appeal this decision and will not back down from President Biden’s fight to protect our state and our nation from the border crisis.” “We have a constitutional obligation to enforce federal laws that protect the nation,” Abbott said in a statement.

“El Paso County applauds today’s court’s clear affirmation that immigration policy is solely under federal jurisdiction and that interference with the Constitution of the United States by the State of Texas will not be tolerated,” El Paso County Commissioner Ileana Holguin said in a statement. Ta.

The White House praised the decision in a statement Thursday and continued to urge Congress to pass the border deal, which has stalled in the Senate.

“We welcome the district court’s decision to block Texas’ harmful and unconstitutional law,” White House Press Secretary Angelo Fernandez Hernandez said in a statement.

“The President is committed to providing the critical policy changes and resources needed to secure our borders, which is why we are passing a bipartisan border security agreement negotiated in the Senate,” said Fernández Hernández. I continue to call on Congressional Republicans to do the same.”

When Mr. Abbott signed the bill in December, it raised concerns among some immigration advocates who feared a wave of racial profiling and attempts by state authorities to detain or deport them.

The American Civil Liberties Union, ACLU of Texas, and Texas Civil Rights Project filed suit shortly after Abbott signed the bill, arguing that the controversial border law preempts federal law and is unconstitutional.

But Texas says SB4 supplements federal law, not conflicts with it, and that Texas is protecting itself from “invasion, especially what Texas calls an all-out invasion of transnational criminal cartels.” “We have the right to protect ourselves,” he said.

This article has been updated with additional reporting and background information.

CNN’s Priscilla Alvarez and Samantha Woldenberg contributed to this report.