A federal appeals court ruled in favor of a new Texas law that makes entering into the state illegally a state crime, in addition to a federal one. The victory for the Lone Star State in court could also boost Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s (R) efforts to restrict the flow of illegal immigrants into the state.
The decision by the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals reversed an earlier order by U.S. District Judge David A. Ezra blocking the Texas state law. The new law allows for the jailing of illegal immigrants and grants state judges the ability to deport migrants.
The law is set to take effect on March 9 barring a potential intervention by the U.S. Supreme Court.
Abbott wrote after Ezra’s decision that the state had “the right to defend itself” and called the current situation along the U.S.-Mexico border an “invasion.”
The governor announced the court appeal following the initial decision, stating that the state would “not back down in our fight to protect our state — and our nation — from President [Joe] Biden’s border crisis.”
The Texas governor wrote on social media that the decision was “HUGE NEWS.”
“Law enforcement officers in Texas are now authorized to arrest & jail any illegal immigrants crossing the border,” he wrote.
BREAKING HUGE NEWS
Federal appeals court allows Texas immigration law to take effect.
Law enforcement officers in Texas are now authorized to arrest & jail any illegal immigrants crossing the border. https://t.co/TW6MkLUXT7
— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) March 4, 2024
The increased enforcement by Texas officials has led to a decline in attempted crossings on the Rio Grande and toward other states, including Arizona and California.
The Texas-Mexico border was also the site of a visit by former President Donald Trump, who was joined by Abbott and a number of state officials.
According to figures from the state government, the area around Eagle Pass, Texas has seen a dramatic decline in the number of migrant crossings since the start of state enforcement.
What had been one of the major crossing points for illegal aliens has seen a 99% reduction in crossings in the last several months.
In December of last year, more than 4,000 people crossed the boundary at Eagle Pass on average. Following Texas manning the border crossing on Jan. 11 the crossings declined to just 18 per day.
