The US Supreme Court has stepped in to temporarily halt a controversial Texas law that would empower state authorities to apprehend and deport migrants crossing the US-Mexico border illegally. Known as Senate Bill 4 (SB 4), the law has been at the center of a legal battle between the Biden administration and the Republican-led state of Texas.
The Supreme Court’s decision puts a hold on the law until March 13, pending further review of the case. This move comes as the federal government and Texas grapple over jurisdictional authority in immigration matters, which are traditionally under federal purview.
Under the provisions of the Texas law, illegal border crossing would be classified as a state offense, a move that the Department of Justice has deemed unconstitutional. Immigration enforcement and policy-making are typically managed at the federal level in the United States.
Amidst a politically charged atmosphere leading up to the presidential election, Republicans have pointed fingers at President Biden for the surge in migrant arrivals at the US border. Democrats have attempted to push through comprehensive immigration reforms, but these efforts have faced resistance from Republicans in Congress, particularly in relation to aid for Ukraine.
The Biden administration has accused the GOP, including former President Trump, of obstructing bipartisan efforts to address the immigration issue. Governor Greg Abbott, a staunch Trump ally, has characterized the influx of migrants as an “invasion” along the southern border.
In addition to the legal battle over SB 4, the Justice Department has taken legal action against Texas over the installation of a floating barrier in the Rio Grande river, which state authorities erected to deter migrants from crossing into the United States from Mexico.