The U.S. Supreme Court has extended a temporary freeze barring Texas from enforcing a new law that allows state police to arrest immigrants suspected of crossing the U.S.–Mexico border illegally.
Justice Samuel Alito, who oversees the federal circuit handling the case, on March 18, extended an administrative stay on Texas Senate Bill 4 that was initially issued on March 4 and then extended on March 12 to allow the court time to review the case. The stay was extended “pending further order” of the court, according to the order.
The order is a setback to Texas and other red states in stemming the tide of illegal immigrants whom they have deemed an “invasion.”
SB4, signed into law by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott in December 2023, was scheduled to go into effect on March 5. The Supreme Court is currently considering emergency appeals brought by the Biden administration challenging the law.
The law makes it a state crime to cross the Texas–Mexico border outside legal ports of entry. Punishment for the Class B misdemeanor is up to six months in jail. However, repeat offenders could face second-degree felony charges and up to 20 years in prison.
Judges are granted leeway under the law to drop the charges if the illegal immigrants agree to return to Mexico.
Hellbound and Down 