A U.S. federal judge has issued a preliminary injunction blocking Texas from enforcing its SB4 immigration bill, which aimed to criminalize illegal border crossings into the state from Mexico.
The injunction, granted by U.S. District Judge David Ezra, comes amidst ongoing litigation between Texas, the federal government, and several immigration advocacy groups.
Judge Ezra’s decision to halt the enforcement of SB4, which was scheduled to take effect on March 5, cited the potential “grave irreparable harm” to the federal government if the bill were to be implemented.
He expressed concern that allowing Texas to enforce SB4 could encourage other states to enact their own immigration laws, undermining the federal government’s authority to regulate immigration uniformly.
SB4, signed into law by Texas Governor Greg Abbott in December, was part of the state’s efforts to address the surge in illegal border crossings along the Texas-Mexico border, particularly in the Rio Grande region.
However, the law faced legal challenges from organizations like the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and the Texas Civil Rights Project, who argued that it violated constitutional rights.
The injunction follows earlier indications from Judge Ezra that he was inclined to block SB4. In a previous hearing, he criticized the drafting of the statute, suggesting that more care should have been taken to avoid potential conflicts with federal immigration laws.
The decision to grant the preliminary injunction represents a significant setback for Texas’ immigration enforcement efforts and highlights the ongoing tension between state and federal authorities over immigration policy.
