USA (Washington Insider Magazine)—Republican governor signs a bill that permits police to arrest migrants who enter the US illegally. On Monday, Texas Governor Greg Abbott authorized new powers that allow police to arrest immigrants. This will be known as SB4. He also gave local judges the power to order them to leave the country. Opponents have called the action the most theatrical attempt by a state to police immigration since a 2010 Arizona law. Critics denounced it as the “Show Me Your Papers” bill primarily bashed down by the U.S. Supreme Court.
Immigration enforcement is a federal subject, and new Texas law will likely face swift legal challenges. The law, which takes effect in March, permits any Texas law enforcement officer to arrest people suspected of entering the country illegally. After that, the detained migrants could either agree to a Texas judge’s order to leave the country or be prosecuted on misdemeanor charges carrying a punishment of up to six months in prison. The American Civil Liberties Union of Texas said it would challenge the measure in court.
Migrants who don’t leave could face detention again under more harsh felony charges. Abbott signed the law in front of a section of border fence in Brownsville. He Predicted the number of people entering illegally into Texas would fall by “well over 50%, maybe 75%.” However, he did not offer proof for that estimate. Further, he said, “The outcomes of it are so extreme that the people being smuggled by the cartels, they will not want to be coming into the state of Texas.”
There is already a battle between the White House and Senate negotiators to reach a deal on border safety. The law will add another pressure on immigration Policies. On the contrary, Republicans in Congress are requesting modifications to the immigration system in exchange for any help for Ukraine, Israel, and other national security assistance deals. Texas Republicans have increasingly challenged the U.S. government’s authority over immigration. President Joe Biden said the administration isn’t doing enough to prevent the migrants on the 1,950-mile southern border.
Since August 2022, Texas has experienced more than 65,000 migrants to cities across America. However, Recently established razor wire along the banks of the Rio Grande has caught and harmed some asylum-seekers. On Monday, the US administration also temporarily shut down two railroad border crossings in Texas. Rail operators expressed that this action would hinder trade ahead of Christmas.
Over the past few weeks, migrants have traveled on freight trains. Troy Miller, U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s acting commissioner, ordered closures at Eagle Pass and El Paso as a reaction. Miller said officers are seeing “unprecedented” appearances at the border, with around 10,000 crossings on some days this month.
Additionally, 20 congressional Democrats signed a letter demanding the U.S. Justice Department to sue to prevent the law, known as Senate Bill 4. “SB 4 is dangerous for the people of Texas and interferes with the federal government’s exclusive authority over immigration and foreign affairs,” the letter read.
Mexico’s authorities also have criticized the measure. Under bilateral and international agreements, Mexico is subject to accepting deportations of its nationals, but not those of other nations.
In the fiscal year ending in September, It is estimated that there were more than 2.4 million apprehensions across the U.S.-Mexico border. It broke the record of 2.3 million from the previous year.
