This sets up an interesting showdown with Los Federales
Texas to arrest illegal migrants in challenge to federal govt
Texas has enacted a law that will make border crossings illegal and punishable with jail time, one of the toughest immigration laws passed by any US state in modern times.
Governor Greg Abbott, a Republican, said it would “stop the tidal wave of illegal entry into Texas”.
Immigration advocates have said the law will lead to racial profiling.
It comes amid rising illegal migration and public concern over US President Joe Biden’s handling of the border.
The new Texas measure is so controversial, in part, because US courts have previously ruled that only the federal government can enforce immigration laws.
Crossing the border illegally is already a federal crime, but violations are currently handled as civil cases by the immigration court system.
It’s an interesting dynamic: the federal government is tasked with securing the border from foreign invasion, however, it is not really performing that job. So, do border states which are the recipients of failed federal government policies and seeing thousands of illegals invade, damage property, hurt citizens, and have to spend lots of money have the right to enact measures to stop the flow?
Punishments range from misdemeanours to felonies that can lead to jail time or fines of up to $2,000 (£1,580).
A judge can also order that those arrested be sent back across the border into Mexico, although it is unclear how Texas authorities plan to enforce that provision.
Penalties for illegal re-entry could go up to 20 years in jail, depending on a migrant’s immigration and criminal history.
Just stick them back across the border. The Biden regime is sure to sue over this law, as well as the other Abbott signed, which creates mandatory jail terms for human smugglers, but, how will they argue Texas has no standing to secure their border when the Biden regime is failing to do the job?
Read: Texas Governor Signs Law Allowing State To Arrest And Jail Illegal Border Crossers »