Federal Appeals Court Blocks Texas Immigration Enforcement Law

A federal appeals court has blocked Texas from enforcing Senate Bill 4 (SB4), a 2023 Republican-backed law that would have allowed state authorities to arrest and prosecute individuals suspected of illegally crossing the U.S.-Mexico border, affirming that immigration enforcement is exclusively a federal power. The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a preliminary injunction against SB4, citing a nearly 150-year precedent recognizing federal supremacy in immigration matters and referencing a 2012 Supreme Court ruling that struck down similar Arizona legislation. While the Biden administration initially challenged the law, the Trump administration later dropped the federal lawsuit, but immigrant advocacy groups continued to oppose the law. The law would have criminalized unauthorized entry or re-entry into Texas and empowered state judges to order deportations with penalties of up to 20 years. The court ruling was 2-1, with dissent from a Trump appointee who argued the decision undermines Texas' sovereignty and the concerns of voters worried about illegal immigration. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton vowed to appeal, emphasizing his commitment to fighting illegal immigration.