A federal judge in Texas halted the implementation of the state’s contentious law, SB4, granting officials expansive authority to address illegal border crossings. U.S. District Judge David Ezra sided with President Joe Biden‘s administration, deeming the law an encroachment on federal jurisdiction over immigration enforcement and migrants’ rights to seek asylum.
The ruling coincided with dueling appearances by Biden and former President Donald Trump at the U.S.-Mexico border, underscoring the political significance of immigration issues. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton vowed to appeal the decision, citing the state’s right to defend against border threats.
Texas’ SB4 law, slated for enactment on March 5, faced strong opposition from civil rights groups and the Biden administration. It criminalized illegal entry into Texas, granting local law enforcement the authority to arrest and prosecute violators, alongside severe penalties for noncompliance.
Judge Ezra’s decision aligns with a precedent set by a 2012 Supreme Court ruling, invalidating Arizona’s immigration law. Rejecting Texas’ claims of border “invasion,” Ezra emphasized the law’s infringement on federal immigration governance.
Civil rights advocates lauded the ruling, denouncing SB4 as the most extreme anti-immigrant legislation in U.S. history. Aron Thorn of the Texas Civil Rights Project hailed the decision as a crucial step in protecting vulnerable immigrant communities.
