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A preliminary injunction was placed on a new law that would have given police the authority to arrest illegal aliens. The new law was set to take effect on March 5th.
Opponents of the law have claimed that it will lead to racial profiling, but supporters of the law say that with the immigration crisis as bad as it is, we need to allow even local police to help enforce the sovereignty of the Texas border. The state of Texas is expected to appeal the injunction.
This comes as both Donald Trump and Joe Biden are at the U.S.-Mexico border speaking on the immigration crisis. Biden and federal policy on immigration have been the focus of blame for Texas officials, while Trump has been praised by Texas leaders including Gov. Gregg Abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton.
Governor Greg Abbott issued a statement in response to this ruling.
"Texas will immediately appeal this decision, and we will not back down in our fight to protect our state—and our nation—from President Biden's border crisis. The President of the United States has a constitutional duty to enforce federal laws protecting States, including laws already on the books that mandate the detention of illegal immigrants. Texas has the right to defend itself because of President Biden's ongoing failure to fulfill his duty to protect our state from the invasion at our southern border. Even from the bench, this District Judge acknowledged that this case will ultimately be decided by the U.S. Supreme Court."
Attorney General Ken Paxton also released a statement:
“We have appealed this incorrect decision. Texas has a clear right to defend itself from the drug smugglers, human traffickers, cartels, and legions of illegal aliens crossing into our State as a consequence of the Biden Administration’s deliberate policy choices,” said Attorney General Paxton. “I will do everything possible to defend Texas’s right to defend herself against the catastrophic illegal invasion encouraged by the federal government.”