The Biden administration has issued a warning to Texas, stating that it may face legal action if it proceeds with a new law against illegal immigration.
This law, SB 4, was signed into law by Republican Governor Greg Abbott earlier this month. However, Governor Abbott has expressed his readiness to defend the law, even if it means taking the battle to the Supreme Court.
The new law, SB 4, empowers law enforcement officers to arrest illegal immigrants and permits state judges to order their deportation. The Department of Justice (DOJ), in a letter to Governor Abbott, has stated that it will "pursue all appropriate legal remedies to ensure that Texas does not interfere with the functions of the federal government." This letter was first reported by the Houston Chronicle.
The DOJ's letter further states that the new law "intrudes into a field that is occupied by the federal government and is preempted." This statement references a 2012 Supreme Court ruling, U.S. v Arizona, which established that the federal government holds the authority to enforce immigration law.
In response to the DOJ's letter, Governor Abbott's office stated that Texas is prepared to defend the legislation in the Supreme Court. "Texas is prepared to take this fight all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court to protect Texans and Americans from President Bidens open border policies," said spokesperson Renae Eze. "President Bidens deliberate and dangerous inaction at our southern border has left Texas to fend for itself. Governor Abbott signed Senate Bill 4 into law last week to help stop the tidal wave of illegal entry into Texas as the President refuses to enforce federal immigration laws."
This legal dispute is the latest in a series of conflicts between Governor Abbott and the Biden administration over the crisis of illegal immigration at the border. Texas, being at the forefront of this crisis, has accused the Biden administration of neglecting to secure the border. The Biden administration, in turn, has accused Governor Abbott of endorsing inhumane border policies.
In a separate incident, the DOJ has filed a lawsuit against Texas over its use of buoys in the Rio Grande to prevent illegal crossings. Texas asserts that the buoys are intended to save lives by discouraging people from entering the river. However, humanitarian groups and the DOJ argue that the barrier poses a safety risk.
The White House has also criticized Governor Abbott for his decision to transport migrants to "sanctuary" cities, including Chicago and New York City. According to Abbott, this move is necessary to alleviate the pressure on border communities that are overwhelmed by the influx of migrants.
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre criticized Governor Abbott's policies last week, stating, "We believe that Gov. Abbott's policies and political stunts are not safe, not safe for Texas communities and our CBP, our law enforcement on the ground who are trying to do their work. It puts them in harm's way, and they dehumanize and demonize immigrants. That's what his political stunts do."
The threat of a new lawsuit emerges as the border continues to see record numbers of migrant encounters. Fox News reported that over the four-day Christmas weekend, there were more than 35,000 migrant encounters, and since December 1, there have been over 250,000 migrant encounters at the southern border.
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