[UPDATE] Texas Faces Lawsuit From ACLU Over New Immigration Law Allowing Arrest of Illegal Crossers

Texas' new immigration law, which allows local officials to arrest illegal crossers who cross the border without authorization, prompted the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) to file a lawsuit.

The legal challenge was filed in a federal district court, alleging that Gov. Greg Abbott's bill is unconstitutional and arguing that it runs against federal immigration law. The ACLU filed the lawsuit with the ACLU of Texas and the Texas Civil Rights Project on behalf of the Las Americas Immigrant Advocacy Center, American Gateways, and the County of El Paso, Texas.

Texas's New Border Law Faces Legal Challenge

In a statement, a senior staff attorney at the ACLU, Anand Balakrishnan, said that Abbott's efforts to circumvent the federal immigration system and deny people's right to due process are unconstitutional and prone to error. He added that the efforts would disproportionately harm Black and Brown people regardless of their immigration status.

The new bill is the latest in a series of efforts by Texas Republicans to test the limits of the state's authority in their attempts to tighten border security and curb illegal immigration. On Monday, the legislation was signed and expected to take effect in March, as per Politico.

Following the signing of the bill, Abbott said that United States President Joe Biden has repeatedly refused to enforce federal immigration laws that are already on the books. He noted that in the Democrat's absence, his state has the constitutional authority to secure the border through historic laws such as SB 4, the latest bill.

On the other hand, the Mexican government is also gearing up to challenge Texas' new "inhumane" law. On Tuesday, Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said that his administration is getting ready to fight against the bill.

Abbott said that his new bill comes as migrants who enter the US without authorization can already be charged with illegal entry or re-entry under federal laws. He argued that the Biden administration's failure to enforce such laws contributed to the immigration surge.

Addressing the Migrant Crisis

In the past few years, the Texas governor has launched a crackdown on illegal immigration under the name "Operation Lone Star." According to Yahoo News, he has rolled out the National Guard and concertina wire along the border while also ordering the installation of a floating barrier in a stretch of the Rio Grande River.

During his morning press conferences, Obrador, a leftist, has frequently criticized Abbott and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. He has also urged Mexican-Americans who are eligible to vote in the United States not to support either lawmaker.

Abbott's new law also received criticism from the White House as Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said that it is "extreme" and also works to "dehumanize" immigrants. She argued that the new bill puts them in "harm's way."

The press secretary's remarks came during a press briefing on Tuesday, where she said that Texas' new law will not and does not make communities any safer. She said that instead, it was "very much in line" with what GOP members do, which "demonize" and dehumanize immigrants, said Fox News.

Tags

Texas, Greg Abbott, ACLU, American Civil Liberties Union, Lawsuit