A Federal Appeals Court is Set to Decide on a Texas Law That Gives Police the Powers to Arrest Illegal Migrants

(WBAP/KLIF) – AUSTIN, TX – The 5th Circuit Court of Appeals vacated an earlier ruling by a three-judge panel that the law is unconstitutional, and now the full court will consider whether the law can take effect. In 2023, the Texas Legislature passed Senate Bill 4, however a federal judge in Texas ruled that the law was unconstitutional. Since then, Texas has appealed that ruling.

Under the proposed law, state law enforcement officers could arrest people suspected of entering the country illegally. Once in custody, they could leave the country or face a misdemeanor charge for entering the US illegally. Migrants who don’t leave after being ordered to do so could be arrested again and charged with a more serious felony.