Supreme Court allows Texas to begin enforcing controversial immigration law

John Towfighi, CNN | 3/19/2024, 1:31 p.m.
The Supreme Court on Tuesday cleared the way for Texas to immediately begin enforcing a controversial immigration law that allows …
Texas can immediately begin enforcing the controversial immigration law that allows state officials to arrest and detain people they suspect of entering the country illegally, the Supreme Court ruled Tuesday. Mandatory Credit: Michael Reynolds/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock via CNN Newsource

The Supreme Court on Tuesday cleared the way for Texas to immediately begin enforcing a controversial immigration law that allows state officials to arrest and detain people they suspect of entering the country illegally.

The court’s three liberals dissented.

Legal challenges to the law are ongoing at a federal appeals court.

The court had been blocking the law from taking effect, issuing an indefinite stay on Monday, which was wiped away by Tuesday’s order.

The decision hands a significant – yet temporary – win to Texas, which has been in an ongoing legal battle with the Biden administration over immigration policy.

Senate Bill 4, signed into law by Texas Republican Gov. Greg Abbott in December, immediately raised concerns among immigration advocates of increased racial profiling as well as detentions and attempted deportations by state authorities in Texas, where Latinos represent 40% of the population.

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