LatinoJustice Encouraged by Extended Block to Harmful Immigration Bill in Texas
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 12, 2024
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LatinoJustice Encouraged by Extended Block to Harmful Immigration Bill in Texas
Austin, TX – The U.S. Supreme Court has extended a block to Senate Bill 4, a new Texas state border enforcement bill that would allow state and local police to detain, arrest and deport people suspected of illegally crossing the U.S.-Mexico border. The temporary block to SB4 will extend the stay until March 18, and overrules a decision from the 5th US Circuit Court of Appeals that would have allowed the law to go into effect starting March 9.
The decision comes after both the Justice Department and Immigration advocacy and civil rights groups sued the state. The lawsuits were then consolidated and heard in federal court.
The following statement can be attributed to Karen Muñoz, Justice Catalyst Fellow at LatinoJustice PRLDEF:
“We have said it before and we will say it again, SB4 is an anti-immigrant bill intended to sow fear and sanction racial profiling, unjust arrests, and the unlawful deportation of our community members. We are encouraged that our nation's highest court has recognized that this harmful law should not go into effect. Texas' SB4 goes far beyond what the U.S. Constitution allows and would cause irreparable damage in our community. LatinoJustice will continue to monitor actions and policies related to Operation Lone Star and other bills targeting our immigrant communities”.
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About LatinoJustice
LatinoJustice PRLDEF works to create a more just society by using and challenging the rule of law to secure transformative, equitable and accessible justice, by empowering our community and by fostering leadership through advocacy and education. For over 50 years, LatinoJustice PRLDEF has acted as an advocate against injustices throughout the country. To learn more about LatinoJustice, visit www.LatinoJustice.org