On January 30, 2025, a federal judge scheduled a trial for July 8 to address a challenge to a Texas law allowing state officers to arrest and deport migrants suspected of being in the country illegally. The case sets the stage for a complex legal battle as Governor Greg Abbott seeks to support President Donald Trump’s immigration enforcement efforts.
In November 2023, the Texas Legislature passed SB 4, imposing penalties on individuals suspected of crossing into Texas from Mexico outside of an official port of entry. Migrants arrested on suspicion of illegal entry would be required to accept the deportation order from a magistrate judge or face harsher penalties for refusal. A federal appeals court temporarily blocked the law ahead of a scheduled hearing in a lawsuit filed by immigrant rights groups and the federal government. This followed a March 19, 2024, U.S. Supreme Court order allowing Texas to enforce SB 4 while legal challenges continue.
The law permits police to arrest individuals they believe entered Texas illegally and are without legal immigration status. The law is being challenged on the grounds that it could lead to racial profiling and encroaches on the federal government’s exclusive authority over immigration. As the trial proceeds, more information will emerge regarding the future of SB 4. You can rely on the attorneys at Prime Path Immigration Law Firm Limited USA to keep you updated on SB 4 developments!
References:
Mendez, Maria. “Texas immigration law: Here’s what to know about SB 4” The Texas Tribune. March 20, 2024.
Wagner, Bayliss. “Challenge to Texas immigration law SB 4 will head to trial in July, federal judge orders” January 31, 2025.
Torres, Aaron. “Federal judge sets trial date on legality of 2023 Texas immigration law” Dallas Morning News. January 30, 2025.
