Texas Passes Immigration Law to Allow Migrant Arrests

On Monday, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) signed a bill making illegal entry into Texas from Mexico a state crime. The bill is part of a package of measures aimed at decreasing the flow of migrants entering Texas from Mexico.

Key Details: Beginning in March 2024, state and local police will be authorized to arrest migrants who are believed to be in Texas illegally, and state judges will have the power to "order an offender to return to the foreign nation from which the person entered or attempted to enter this state."

Key Quote: “These laws will help stop the tidal wave of illegal entry into Texas,” Abbott said in a statement. "President Biden’s deliberate inaction has left Texas to fend for itself".

For Context: The new law is an escalation in Abbott's pushback against the border policies of the Biden administration. On December 1st, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ordered Texas to remove the floating border buoy barrier from the Rio Grande.

How the Media Covered it: Sources across the political spectrum noted that the law will most likely face a legal challenge by the Biden administration. Some critics suggested the law is unconstitutional and could lead to racial profiling.