(BrightPress.org) – An immigration law in Texas was approved by the Supreme Court on Tuesday, March 19th, only to be blocked hours later by a federal appeals court. The Supreme Court agreed that Texas could enforce Senate Bill 4 (SB4) which is a measure that allows Texas law enforcement officers to arrest illegal immigrants and allows for deportation to be enforced at the state level. SB4 was temporarily blocked again, only a few hours later by a fifth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
Jorge Dominguez, attorney for Las Americas Immigrant Advocacy Center claims the Supreme Court’s order to allow SB4 is a “gut punch” and will impact “any state resident of color.” Dominguez is concerned the law would allow for people to be detained for having brown skin, speaking fluent Spanish, or resembling an illegal immigrant.
Solicitor General Elizabeth B. Prelogar said the nation should be speaking with “one voice” in matters involving foreign affairs and SB4 would interfere. Prelogar also believes SB4 would allow deportation of migrants whose lives are in danger, which violates federal law. Justice Elena Kagan wrote that the law should not be allowed to go into effect because matters of immigration are for the Federal Government and should not be enforced at the state level. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) spokesperson Luis Miranda echoed Kagan’s belief and said DHS agencies do not have the authority to assist Texas in enforcing SB4 due to only conducting deportations per federal orders.
The Mexican government bashed the implementation of SB4. The law does not require the consent of the Mexican government to return migrants to Mexico. On Tuesday, the Mexican government said it would not allow migrants to be sent back and claims SB4 violates human rights by encouraging the separation of families and racial profiling.
The government of Mexico reiterated the right to “determine its own policies regarding entry into its territories.”
Copyright 2024, BrightPress.org
