What happened? A decision by the US Supreme Court further heats up the debate about migration policy in the USA. On Tuesday, the Supreme Court granted the temporary entry into force of a controversial law that gives Texas authorities broad powers on the border with Mexico. This emerges from a court document that was published by the US broadcaster CNN, among others.
Why is the law controversial? The law specifically criminalizes irregular migration to the USA at the Texas state level. It allows Texas law enforcement officers to arrest people suspected of illegally crossing the border from Mexico into the United States. Texas courts can also order deportations and impose long prison sentences for repeated border crossings. These powers are actually reserved for US federal agencies.
What was the process like? The Republican Governor of Texas, Greg Abbott, signed the law in December. After a lengthy legal tug-of-war, the US Department of Justice finally argued before the Supreme Court that the southern US state was exceeding its authority with the project and caused a delay.
Legend:
Texas Governor Greg Abbott called the ruling a “positive development.”
AP Photo/Eric Gay
What’s next? With the decision on Tuesday, the law can initially come into force. However, the Supreme Court has not ruled on whether the law is constitutional. Now the appeal court will deal with the law again before it could ultimately end up before the Supreme Court again.
What does Mexico say about this? Neighboring Mexico categorically rejected any measure that would grant federal or municipal US authorities authority over migration issues. “Mexico will not accept deportations through the state of Texas under any circumstances,” the State Department said in a statement.
Why is the topic so topical? The issue of migration plays a particularly important role in the US presidential election campaign – Republicans accuse US President Joe Biden of having lost control over the protection of the US southern border. Challenger Donald Trump repeatedly uses extreme formulations and speaks, for example, of an “invasion” by the USA. Thousands of people come to the United States every day to escape poverty and conflict in their home countries. Authorities are under pressure and the justice system can hardly keep up with processing asylum applications. There is also a lack of accommodation and other resources for the newcomers.