Supreme Court upholds controversial immigration law in Texas

Green light from U.S. Supreme Court: Against the will of the Justice Department, Texas police officers are given powers on the Mexico border that are otherwise reserved for federal authorities.

After the Supreme Court ruling was announced, protesters chanted “No to SB 4,” “No to Senate Bill 4” in several Texas border towns. The chief justices ruled that Texas' unique approach to border security could be enforced for now.

Until further notice, Texas border officials are authorized to detain people suspected of illegally crossing the border from Mexico into Texas. Texas is now allowed to deport people on its own initiative and impose long prison sentences for repeat illegal border crossings. All of these were previously the powers of US federal authorities. For the first time in American history, an individual federal state could defend its external border on its own initiative.

No final decision yet

The Texas Attorney General calls the judge's ruling “an excellent decision.” But Ken Paxton admits on local Texas television that the fight is far from over. Texas immigration law initially applies only until a lower court decides the applicable concerns.

The Biden administration said in writing that it “fundamentally” disagrees with the Supreme Court and calls Texas' secession approach “harmful and unconstitutional.” “It will cause chaos at the border!” Democratic Senator Chris Murphy was also critical. Running two different border security agencies at the same time — one state and one federal — is unacceptable, Murphy argued on CNN.

Republicans block federal legislation for electoral reasons

At the federal level, however, the situation remains deadlocked: the Senate recently passed a package of border security measures with a nonpartisan majority. However, in the House of Representatives, the Republicans refused to give their approval – perhaps the influence of Donald Trump, who does not want any relaxation of the border for electoral reasons: he enjoys winning votes with his anti-immigrant hatred.

Senator Murphy said he hoped Republicans would change their minds and still support historically tough border security. The impugned law gives the president the power to provide border security, expedited asylum procedures, simplified deportations and, if necessary, close the border entirely.

First, the legal battle over the Texas law is already entering a new round.