Jacquelin Rebolledo Hernandez, Staff Reporter
The state of Texas has proposed a new immigration law, Senate Bill 4, which gives police authority to arrest someone under suspicion of participating in “illegal entry.” The bill has specified illegal entry to include victims of smuggling and human trafficking.
The punishment for violating this law is up to six months in jail and potential deportation back to the country of origin. Gov. Abbott signed BS4 into law in December, and it was set to take effect on March 5. However, the the Biden administration has sued Texas in an attempt to block BS4 citing that “immigration enforcement falls under federal jurisdiction.”
This law has many Texans proud of the governor for taking action on immigration at the border, but for many others fear for themselves, friends, or family members who may be affected by the law.
Gov. Abbott has stated that this new law will “stop the tidal wave of illegal entry into Texas,” and blames the Biden administration for its ignorance to the problem at the Texas border. The legal battle is ongoing.