Independent journalist Auden Cabello joins ‘America Reports’ to discuss the White House and Mexico holding a meeting amid the migrant surge. The Biden administration on Thursday threatened to sue Texas if it moves forward with a new anti-illegal immigration law signed this month by Gov. Greg Abbott – but the Republican governor says he is prepared to take the fight to the Supreme Court.
The legislation, SB 4, signed by Abbott, allows law enforcement to arrest illegal immigrants and state judges to order their removal from the country. However, the Department of Justice (DOJ) argues that the law intrudes into a field occupied by the federal government and is preempted, citing a 2012 Supreme Court ruling, U.S. v Arizona, which upheld federal power to enforce immigration law.
In response, Abbott’s office stated that Texas is ready to defend the legislation all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court, criticizing President Biden’s handling of the border crisis and accusing him of failing to enforce federal immigration laws.
This legal battle is the latest clash between Abbott and the Biden administration over the illegal immigrant crisis at the border, with Texas being on the front line. While Abbott blames the administration for the lack of border security, the administration accuses Abbott of promoting inhumane policies.
Last week, a federal appeals court temporarily blocked the Biden administration from cutting razor wire set up by Texas earlier this year. The state had sued the administration, and the court ruled against interfering with the wire unless for a medical emergency.
The DOJ has also sued Texas over its deployment of buoys in the Rio Grande to prevent illegal crossings. Texas argues that the buoys save lives, but humanitarian groups and the DOJ claim they pose a safety risk.
Abbott has faced criticism for busing migrants to “sanctuary” cities, such as Chicago and New York City, to alleviate pressure on overwhelmed border communities. The White House has condemned these actions, accusing Abbott of endangering Texas communities and demonizing immigrants.
The threat of a new lawsuit comes as the border continues to experience record numbers of migrant encounters. Over the four-day Christmas weekend alone, there were more than 35,000 encounters, and since December 1, there have been over 250,000 encounters at the southern border.
Meanwhile, a delegation from the Biden administration, including Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, met with Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador to discuss the migration crisis in the hemisphere.
The clash between Texas and the Biden administration highlights the ongoing struggle to address the influx of illegal immigration at the southern border and the differing approaches taken by Republicans and Democrats to tackle this issue. It remains to be seen how this legal battle will unfold and its implications for immigration policy in the United States.
Adam Shaw is a politics reporter for Fox News, primarily covering immigration and border security. He can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter. Stay updated with the latest updates from the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews, and more political content by subscribing to the newsletter.
