A recent decision by a federal appeals court has given the green light for a Texas immigration law to be put into action, Texastribune.org reported. Texas Governor Abbott announced that law enforcement officers in Texas are now permitted to arrest and detain any individuals found crossing the border illegally.
Gov. Abbott announces federal appeals court decision to reverse previous ruling, saying Texas immigration law will take effect
The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals reversed a previous ruling from a lower court that had stopped the implementation of this new state law. The decision means that Texas police can now apprehend individuals suspected of crossing the Texas-Mexico border unlawfully.
The law additionally mandates state judges to instruct migrants to return to Mexico upon conviction; local law enforcement would be tasked with transporting migrants to the border. Charges could be dropped by a judge if a migrant consents to voluntarily return to Mexico.
However, the appeals court has temporarily halted its decision for seven days to allow the federal government an opportunity to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court. If the Supreme Court does not intervene, the new Texas immigration law could become effective as soon as Saturday, while the legal dispute continues.
Additionally, the appeals court mentioned that it will set a date for oral arguments in the near future. However, the specific date has not been announced as of Monday.
The decision from the 5th Circuit came one day after U.S. District Judge David Ezra in Austin prevented Senate Bill 4 from being enforced, stating that the law, “threatens the fundamental notion that the United States must regulate immigration with one voice.”
Texas appeals ruling amid border crisis, Gov. Abbott vows vigilance in defense efforts
Texas appealed the ruling, with Gov Abbott saying, “We will not back down in our fight to protect our state — and our nation — from President Biden’s border crisis.”
During the weekend, the 5th US Circuit Court of Appeals temporarily stopped Ezra’s decision but postponed its ruling for seven days to give the Biden administration a chance to appeal to the Supreme Court.
The law will stay inactive until March 9 unless the Supreme Court decides otherwise, CNN reported. Initially, it was scheduled to take effect on March 5.
Governor Greg Abbott remarked after the legislation was approved that Texas possesses the right to protect itself against what he has labeled as Biden’s open-border policies. He has foreseen that the legality of the legislation might ultimately be determined by the U.S. Supreme Court.
