Federal Court Blocks Texas Immigration Law Allowing State Border Arrests

Federal Court Blocks Texas Immigration Law

July 4, 2025 – Washington, D.C. — A sharply divided U.S. federal appeals court has blocked Texas from enforcing a controversial state law that would have allowed local authorities to arrest and prosecute people suspected of illegally crossing the U.S.-Mexico border. The 2–1 ruling from the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upholds a previous injunction and marks a major legal setback for Republican lawmakers and Texas Governor Greg Abbott, who championed the legislation.

The disputed law, known as Senate Bill 4 (SB4), was signed into law in December 2023. It authorized state and local police to detain individuals believed to have crossed the border unlawfully and granted Texas judges the power to order them deported. Offenders could face up to 20 years in prison for failure to comply.

In Thursday’s ruling, the court cited the longstanding precedent set by the U.S. Supreme Court in Arizona v. United States (2012), which reaffirmed that immigration enforcement is primarily a federal responsibility. Writing for the majority, Judges Priscilla Richman and Irma Carrillo Ramirez concluded that the Texas law directly conflicts with federal authority and undermines uniform immigration policy.

“The Constitution entrusts immigration policy to the federal government. SB4 would create a parallel enforcement system that the law does not permit,” the majority opinion stated.

In dissent, Judge Andrew Oldham criticized the decision, arguing that the law addressed legitimate state concerns about border security. He accused the court of dismissing the will of Texas voters and failing to support local efforts to assist federal authorities in immigration enforcement.

The Biden administration had sued to block the law earlier this year, arguing that SB4 would cause confusion, racial profiling, and harm diplomatic relations by giving state actors unprecedented immigration powers.

The legal battle over SB4 has already seen a brief moment of confusion in March 2025, when the U.S. Supreme Court temporarily allowed the law to take effect. That decision was quickly overridden by the 5th Circuit, which halted enforcement again pending Thursday’s ruling.

Immigrant advocacy organizations, including the Las Americas Immigrant Advocacy Center, hailed the court’s decision as a victory for constitutional law and human rights. “This ruling affirms that immigration policy cannot be dictated by patchwork state laws driven by politics and fear,” said one spokesperson.

Governor Abbott’s office has not yet commented, but legal experts anticipate Texas will appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court, setting the stage for a potential landmark decision.

As the legal standoff continues, the ruling highlights the tension between state sovereignty and federal supremacy, especially on divisive issues like immigration and border control. With the 2026 election cycle on the horizon, the debate over SB4 may remain at the center of both legal and political arenas in the months to come.

Highlights:

U.S. appeals court blocks Texas law allowing state arrests for illegal border crossings.
Judges ruled immigration enforcement is a federal responsibility, not a state power.
Texas may appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court as legal battle continues.

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