Texan Gov. Greg Abbott’s decision to allow state officials to arrest migrants crossing the border illegally has been met with widespread opposition, including from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), which filed a lawsuit opposing the measure. The new law also gives Texas state courts the authority to rule on such cases. The move goes against federal immigration law, which makes migration a federal issue, not a state one. The ACLU sees this as an infringement upon our country’s bedrock constitutional principles, which serve to protect the vulnerable.
Adriana Piñon, legal director of the ACLU of Texas, is concerned that this bill will do more harm than good, especially to the state’s Brown and Black communities. In a statement to the Associated Press, Piñon said, “The bill overrides bedrock constitutional principles and flouts federal immigration law while harming Texans, in particular Brown and Black communities.” The law is set to go into effect in March, but whether it will remain in place is yet to be seen.
It was widely expected that Abbott’s move would be met with immediate legal challenges due to the federal nature of immigration policy in the United States. The ACLU’s lawsuit argues that by trying to regulate immigration laws within the state, Abbott is overstepping his bounds and ignoring the U.S. Constitution that grants the federal government the power to regulate issues such as immigration.
Despite the opposition, National Border Patrol Council President Brandon Judd praised Abbott’s decision to place an emphasis on border security. “Border Patrol agents nationwide, not just in Texas, are grateful for Governor Abbott’s leadership and willingness to recognize that it is the rule of law that keeps all Americans safe,” Judd said. Abbott’s move is seen as trying to fill the void left by the federal government’s inability to adequately address the ongoing crisis of illegal border crossing.
Abbott’s decision also comes at a time when Texas is facing its own border crisis. The state has seen a surge in illegal immigration under the Biden administration, and local and state law enforcement agencies have reported an uptick in crime as a result. It seems that Abbott is trying to help alleviate these concerns by taking matters into his own hands and beefing up border security through this new law.
However, this latest move by Abbott may come at a cost. Opponents of the bill argue that it will lead to racial profiling and discrimination against the state’s Hispanic and Latino communities. They also argue that the law goes against American values of providing refuge for those who are fleeing violence or persecution in their home countries.
Abbott’s decision to allow state officials to arrest migrants who cross the border illegally has been met with opposition and legal challenges. While it is clear that Texas is facing its own border crisis, many believe that Abbott’s approach is not the right solution and will do more harm than good. It remains to be seen what will happen with this new law, but it is clear that this issue will continue to be a contentious one for the foreseeable future.