
Immigration Law News
The latest immigration law stories, summarized by AI
Featured Immigration Law Stories


"Mexico Challenges Texas Immigration Law as Threat to Sovereignty, Protesters Rally Against SB 4, and Biden Administration Opposes Controversial Legislation"
Mexico has filed an amicus brief in support of the Biden administration's lawsuit against Texas' S.B. 4, an anti-illegal immigration law, claiming that it would impinge on Mexico's "sovereign right" to determine who enters the country. The Mexican government argues that the law would strain U.S.-Mexico relations, lead to discrimination against Mexican nationals, and result in the removal of illegal immigrants to Mexico regardless of their nationality. Mexico has requested the Fifth Circuit Court to keep the injunction on the law in place, while Texas argues that it is necessary due to the Biden administration's alleged failure to secure the southern border.

More Top Stories
Texas Border Tensions Rise as Supreme Court Allows Strict Immigration Law
The Associated Press•1 year ago
More Immigration Law Stories

"Supreme Court Temporarily Halts Texas Immigration Law Criminalizing Illegal Migrant Crossings"
The 5th Circuit Court of Appeals has allowed Texas to enforce a new law criminalizing illegal immigration, reversing a lower court's decision. The law permits state authorities to arrest and jail illegal immigrants and grants state judges the power to order deportations. The ruling is on hold for seven days to allow the Biden administration to appeal to the Supreme Court. Texas Governor Greg Abbott plans to appeal the decision, citing the state's right to defend itself from the border crisis.

"France Tightens Immigration Law and Scraps Visa Deals for Britons"
France is set to push through a controversial immigration law despite many measures being invalidated by the Constitutional Council, representing a hardening of immigration rules. The law allows for the deportation of foreigners with criminal convictions, including long-term residents, and includes measures to prevent placing under-18s in detention centers. Asylum applications increased, and with European Parliament elections approaching, President Macron faces challenges from the far right and relies on outside parties to pass legislation. The right-wing and far-right parties criticized the ruling, and there are calls for a second immigration bill, although the interior minister has no intention of doing so.

"Texas House Advances Strict Immigration Laws, Empowering Officers to Arrest Migrants and Expand Border Wall"
The Texas House of Representatives is considering SB 4, a bill that would create one of the strictest immigration laws in the US. If passed, the bill would authorize officers to arrest migrants suspected of unlawfully crossing into Texas and create new state crimes for illegal entry or re-entry. It also allows judges to order some migrants to return to the country they crossed from instead of prosecution. Critics fear the bill would lead to racial profiling, violate constitutional and international protections, and potentially separate families. The bill may also prompt a challenge to a 2012 Supreme Court decision on immigration enforcement.

Federal Judge Reaffirms DACA's Illegality, Supreme Court Decision Looms
A federal court has ruled that the Obama-era program known as DACA, which protects undocumented immigrants brought to the US as children from deportation, is still unlawful. The ruling by Judge Andrew S. Hanen of the US District Court for the Southern District of Texas is a setback for the Biden administration, which sought to codify the program into federal regulation. While the ruling means no new applications will be allowed, those who received their initial DACA status prior to July 16, 2021, can continue to renew their applications. The fate of DACA will ultimately be decided by higher courts, including the Supreme Court.

Lawsuits Challenge Florida's Immigration Law and Election Process
Several groups, including the American Immigration Council and the ACLU Foundation of Florida, have filed a lawsuit against the DeSantis administration over Florida's latest anti-immigration law. The lawsuit argues that the law, which includes provisions such as charging individuals with human trafficking for transporting undocumented migrants across state lines and prohibiting undocumented immigrants from driving with out-of-state licenses, could lead to unlawful arrest, prosecution, and harassment. The groups claim that the law goes beyond federal immigration policies and infringes on people's ability to go about their daily lives. They are seeking to block the state from enforcing the law and argue that it is unconstitutional.

"Florida's New Immigration Law: Sheriff's Message, State Leaders Discuss, DeSantis Calls for Change"
Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister reassured residents that his agency's focus is on public safety, not federal immigration enforcement, in response to Florida's new immigration law. The law, which goes into effect on July 1st, includes consequences for transporting undocumented migrants and penalties for employers who hire them. Chronister emphasized the goal of building trust and fostering strong partnerships with all residents, regardless of their background, bringing relief to concerned community members.

Title 42 expiration sparks uncertainty at US-Mexico border.
With the end of Title 42 border restrictions, the Biden administration will revert to processing all migrants under Title 8 of the U.S. Code, which outlines processes for deportation and carries strict penalties, including five- and 10-year bans on reentry for those deported. Title 42, a section of public health law that allowed for fast-track expulsions during the pandemic and carries no such consequences, has been controversial and criticized for violating the rights of migrants to seek asylum on U.S. soil. The Biden administration has been working to speed up Title 8 processes by surging hundreds of asylum officers to the border in an effort to more quickly adjudicate humanitarian claims while applying the consequences Title 42 does not carry.