Texas Governor Signs Bill Criminalizing Illegal Immigration, Setting Up Showdown

Texas Governor Greg Abbott has signed a bill that makes entering Texas illegally a state crime, granting local law enforcement the power to arrest migrants and judges the ability to issue removal orders to Mexico. The law, known as SB 4, has sparked fear in the Latino community and has been condemned by civil rights organizations and immigration advocacy groups. The ongoing surge of migration at the US-Mexico border has strained local and federal resources, leading to tensions between Abbott and the Biden administration. Democratic House members argue that the bill oversteps federal powers, while the Republican author maintains its constitutionality. The ACLU has threatened to sue Abbott, and county executives have urged President Biden to intervene.