Has Everything ‘Gone To Hell’ Under Biden?

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DOJ Opposes Texas’ Strategy to Arrest Unauthorized Immigrants at Border

The Justice Department has initiated a legal challenge against Texas over a new state law enabling the arrest of undocumented migrants. This move places Governor Greg Abbott, a Republican, in the spotlight for his intensified efforts to manage the influx of people crossing from Mexico.

This legal action signifies another contentious dispute over immigration policies, occurring at a time when cities like New York and Chicago are resisting the influx of migrants transported by Abbott to these Democrat-dominated cities. Concurrently, Texas is engaged in legal battles to maintain its border security measures, including razor wire and a floating barrier in the Rio Grande.

The newly signed Senate Bill 4 by Abbott represents a significant challenge to federal immigration authority. It empowers police across Texas to arrest undocumented migrants and allows judges to order their departure from the U.S.

The federal lawsuit, filed in Austin, argues that the Texas law contravenes the Supremacy Clause, asserting federal law’s precedence over state law in most cases.

The Justice Department’s lawsuit contends that Texas’s actions, especially with SB 4, intrude upon the federal government’s exclusive immigration control, disrupt U.S. immigration operations, and affect international relations.

Set to be implemented in March, the law has already faced opposition, with civil rights groups and El Paso County officials deeming it unconstitutional.

The Justice Department had previously warned Texas of potential legal consequences, prompting Abbott to accuse the Biden administration of neglecting federal immigration laws and attempting to hinder Texas’s enforcement efforts.

Meanwhile, House Speaker Mike Johnson and several Republican colleagues visited Eagle Pass, a focal point in Abbott’s border initiative, suggesting using a government funding deadline to push for stringent border policies.

President Biden, facing migration challenges ahead of the 2024 election, has shown openness to policy compromises. However, Republicans like Johnson criticize the legal attempts to overturn Texas’s border policies.

December saw record-breaking illegal border crossings, leading to temporary closures of cargo rail crossings in Eagle Pass and El Paso. Operations at various crossings have since resumed.

Legal experts and critics view Texas’s law as the most aggressive state-led immigration policing effort since Arizona’s 2010 law, partially overturned by the Supreme Court.

Under Texas’s law, undocumented migrants could face misdemeanor charges or agree to leave the U.S., with non-compliance leading to potential felony charges. The law, however, excludes enforcement in certain areas like schools and churches.

Texas’s ongoing smaller-scale border operation, aimed at arresting migrants for trespassing, has shown limited impact on curbing illegal crossings.