A federal appeals court has put a hold on a Texas immigration law that would allow state officials to arrest and detain suspected illegal immigrants. This decision comes after the Supreme Court gave clearance for the law, with three liberal justices dissenting.
The law, which has raised concerns of racial profiling and increased detentions in Texas, is facing ongoing legal challenges at the federal appeals court level. Governor Abbott has called the court order a “positive development,” while the White House press secretary disagrees with the ruling, calling it a burden on law enforcement and border chaos.
The Supreme Court did not provide reasoning for their decision, leaving the door open for the court battle to potentially return to the high court depending on the 5th Circuit’s decision. Despite this legal back-and-forth, migrant crossings at the US-Mexico border remain low.
The Biden administration, advocacy groups, and El Paso County are among those challenging the law, while Texas officials defend it as self-defense against transnational violence. Some Texas law enforcement officials are wary of enforcing the law, while the US Border Patrol is monitoring the situation but does not anticipate an immediate impact.
In response to the court’s decision, the Department of Homeland Security has criticized it, calling it a threat to immigration enforcement chaos. This ongoing legal battle highlights the complex and contentious issues surrounding immigration policy in the United States.
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