Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signs immigration law allowing migrant arrests
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Texas Gov. Greg Abbott during a June news conference in Austin, Texas. Photo: Brandon Bell/Getty Images
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) signed into law Monday legislation that authorizes state officials to arrest and seek the deportation of migrants who have crossed the U.S.-Mexico border without legal authorization.
Why it matters: The new law that's due to take effect in March is a major escalation in Abbott's pushback against President Biden's border policies and one that critics say is unconstitutional and could lead to racial profiling.
State of play: The legislation, known as Senate Bill 4, passed the Republican-led Senate and House last month despite objections from Democrats.
- The legislation would make it a state misdemeanor to illegally cross the border and a second-degree felony for illegal re-entry, with punishments ranging from 180 days in jail to 20 years in prison.
- It would also permit a judge to order an undocumented person "to return to the foreign nation from which they entered."
What we're watching: SB 4 is likely to face legal challenges.
Between the lines: Legal experts argue it violates long-standing U.S. Supreme Court precedent and goes far beyond Arizona's divisive Senate Bill 1070, which Axios' Astrid Galván and Nicole Cobler note the high court partially struck down.
Zoom out: Abbott and other Republican governors have for months been challenging Biden's border policies, bussing thousands of migrants to Democrat-run cities after record numbers arrived amid a global humanitarian crisis.
- The Biden administration is challenging Texas officials in the courts after they installed razor wire fencing and buoy barriers with blades at the U.S.-Mexico border.
Go deeper: What Texas spends on busing migrants
Editor's note: This a breaking news story. Please check back for updates.
