Texas Law SB 4 Faces Legal Back-and-Forth as Supreme Court Temporarily Lifts Stay
The ongoing legal battle over Texas Senate Bill 4 (SB 4), which permits state police to arrest and deport migrants crossing into the US from Mexico, saw another twist as the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals reinstated a temporary hold on the law. This decision followed the Supreme Court’s temporary lift of the stay earlier on Tuesday, allowing SB 4 to take effect amidst legal challenges.
The Biden administration has vehemently opposed SB 4, arguing that immigration falls under federal jurisdiction and that the law would create chaos and undermine safety in Texas communities. White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre criticized SB 4 as an example of Republicans politicizing border issues while impeding genuine solutions.
While a federal judge previously blocked SB 4, citing conflicts with federal immigration law, a conservative-leaning appeals court later ruled in favor of the law’s enforcement unless overridden by the Supreme Court. The temporary stay from the Supreme Court was lifted, but the subsequent reinstatement by the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals signals continued uncertainty over SB 4’s implementation.
Justice Sonia Sotomayor, dissenting from the Supreme Court’s decision, warned of potential chaos in immigration enforcement and emphasized the law’s disruption of the federal-state balance of power.
Mexico has unequivocally rejected any repatriations by Texas, while migrants in Mexico expressed their intentions to cross the border for work and refuge, highlighting the complex humanitarian dimensions of the issue.
The clash over SB 4 underscores broader tensions between state and federal authorities on immigration policy, with Republicans blaming the Biden administration for migrant influxes and Texas Governor Greg Abbott defending state actions as necessary due to perceived federal shortcomings. The legal battle over SB 4 adds to the ongoing immigration disputes between Texas and federal authorities, including legal challenges over border security measures.
