Supreme Court Temporarily Freezes Texas Immigration Law

The Supreme Court's temporary pause ruling aims to give the justices additional time to review the case but does not signal which way the court is leaning.

The Supreme Court temporarily froze enforcement of a Texas law that allows state law enforcement to arrest and detain people they suspect entered the U.S. illegally.

Senate Bill 4 was signed into law by Gov. Greg Abbott in December and was set to take effect starting next week. However, the Biden administration and several immigration groups filed an emergency application with the Supreme Court asking the justices to block enforcement of the law.

Opposers of the law argue it would increase racial profiling as well as detentions and attempted deportations by state authorities in Texas. It also undermines the federal authority over immigration.

A lower court judge also previously blocked the law claiming it would open the door to each state passing its own version of immigration laws.

The Supreme Court’s temporary pause ruling aims to give the justices additional time to review the case but does not signal which way the court is leaning.