Despite Monday's second stay of SB4 by U.S. Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito, Governor Greg Abbott says that Texas will continue to enforce all state border policies due to the on-going failure of the Biden administration.
Responding to Monday's ruling on X, Abbott posted - “SCOTUS temporarily halted enforcement of SB 4 but Texas is still using its authority to arrest illegal immigrants for criminal trespass and other violations of law. We continue building the wall, use NG (National Guard) to erect razor wire barriers to repel migrants & buoys remain in river."
Senate Bill 4 was passed last year as part of a priority package of immigration and border security bills favored by by Governor Greg Abbott and other Republican leaders. The legislation also permits local judges to order a migrant to return to Mexico regardless of their nationality.
The bill was originally scheduled to take effect March 5, but it’s implementation was blocked by liberal U.S. District Judge David Ezra. On Feb. 29, Ezra ruled the law is likely unconstitutional because the federal government has jurisdiction over immigration matters.
SB 4 would allow state and local police in Texas to arrest people they suspect of crossing the border illegally. The state says it needs to step in because the Biden administration has failed to enforce U.S. immigration law.
The future of the bill remains unclear, with an appeal of Judge Ezra's ruling still pending before the appeals court.