Fri, March 15th 2024 at 3:55 PMS.B. 4 would give Texas law enforcement officers the authority to detain undocumented migrants based solely on their immigration status, a power that historically has fallen to the federal government. It also creates a pathway for Texas to effectively deport those migrants. , a priority among Republicans, could come as soon as Monday.
S.B. 4 would give Texas law enforcement officers the authority to detain undocumented migrants based solely on their immigration status, a power that historically has fallen to the federal government. It also creates a pathway for Texas to effectively deport those migrants. "I think it kind of goes back to what Judge Ezra said at the hearing on S.B. 4 a few weeks ago is that we are not a Confederate state, we are the United States," Kristin Etter, director of policy and legal services with the Texas Immigration Law Council, said. "So, when you are a part of the United States, there are certain federal laws that states have to follow."Two recent Supreme Court cases, though, may provide clues on how the court will rule.