Texas immigration law: Divided Supreme Court lifts pause on bill that gives police power to arrest migrants
TEXAS - A divided Supreme Court on Tuesday lifted a stay on a Texas law that gives police broad powers to arrest migrants suspected of crossing the border illegally while a legal battle over immigration authority plays out.
The Biden administration is suing to strike down the measure, arguing it’s a clear violation of federal authority that would hurt international relations and create chaos in administering immigration law. A judge could then order them to leave the U.S.
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FOX 26 spoke with Cesar Espinoza, the Executive Director of FIEL Houston. He said the law raised more questions than answers.
"It’s going to make it more difficult for the immigrants who are working here trying to provide for their families, and it’s going to add another burden to the already overworked and understaffed police force," Espinoza said.
Texas has argued it has a right to take action over what Gov. Greg Abbott has described it as an "invasion" of migrants on the border.
Photo of the rescued undocumented immigrants (Source: Sheriff Eddie Guerra/Twitter)
Gary Polland is the Editor-in-Chief at the "Texas Conservative Review" and an attorney at law. He said there would be no impact on local law enforcement departments that are away from the border.
"There’s impact with this bill on all departments, but mostly at the border areas, and there are resources that the state has appropriated and used for this, and they need to be shared with those local law enforcement officials," Polland said.
While the law now allows Texas police to enforce federal immigration laws, both Espinoza and Polland agreed that Congress, being the only one that can make immigration reform a reality, needs to do more.
"The federal government hasn’t done it’s job, so Texas has had to come and step in and spend money and resources to try and control our border. Because the border has an impact on all of us and my message is for Congress to get it together," Polland said.
"We really do need to address our immigration laws to take care of what needs to be taken care of at home. But at the same time, allow for a more orderly way for people to fill jobs and fill the demand that the U.S may have for immigrant workers," Espinoza said.