US: Justice Department Says Texas’ New Law is Unconstitutional

Senate Bill 4, a new law in Texas, which allows the state police to arrest people suspected of illegally crossing the border has fallen in bad light. The US Department of Justice says the new immigration law is unconstitutional and will disrupt the federal government’s operations.

Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian Boynton, in a letter to the Governor of Texas Greg Abbott, stated that the United States intends to file suit to enjoin the enforcement of SB 4 unless Texas agrees to refrain from enforcing the law. “While the federal government is committed to securing the border, the Texas law is contrary to these goals.

“The statute effectively creates a separate state immigration scheme by imposing criminal penalties for violations of federal provisions on unlawful entry and re-entry into the United States…and by authorizing state judges to order the removal of non-citizens from the United States.”

What is sb4 in Texas?

Gov. Abbott signed the Senate Bill 4 this month. This law, as per the state of Texas, looks to prohibit sanctuary city policies that prohibit local law enforcement from inquiring about a person’s immigration status and complying with detainer requests. It empowers state law enforcement officers to arrest, detain and deport individuals suspected of illegally crossing the Texas-Mexico border.

Like the federal law, sb4 makes illegal entry at the US border a misdemeanor and illegal to re-entry a felon, and those found to have violated the law can be jailed or ordered by a magistrate to be returned to Mexico. Dan Patrick, Texas Lt. Gov., called it the strongest border security bill Texas has ever passed. He believes Senate Bill 4, an additional tool to enforce the state’s portion of the border, will keep Texans safe.

Texas Prepared to Fight US Justice

The Texas Gov. slammed the Justice Department letter and accused President Joe Biden of destroying America. He said the Biden administration refuses to enforce the current US immigration laws. “They now want to stop Texas from enforcing laws against illegal immigration. I’ve never seen such hostility to the rule of law in America. Biden is destroying America. Texas is trying to save it.”

A spokesperson for Abbott on Thursday said Texas is prepared to fight all the way to the US Supreme Court in defense of the law. “The governor signed the law to help stop the tidal wave of illegal entry into Texas.” He added that the federal government is shirking its duties when it comes to immigration enforcement, and has therefore left that job to the state.