(TruthAndLiberty.com) – The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has issued a warning to Texas Governor Greg Abbott, a Republican, regarding a new state law he recently signed. This law, which targets migrants entering the U.S. from Mexico, could lead to legal action from the DOJ, as revealed in a letter obtained by The Hill.
Abbott approved the legislation as a response to the rising number of migrant encounters at the U.S.-Mexico border. Set to be enacted on March 5, the law empowers Texas law enforcement officers to arrest individuals suspected of illegal entry into the United States. Arrested migrants are faced with a choice: either comply with a judge’s order to leave the country or face misdemeanor charges for illegal entry.
In the letter addressed to Abbott, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton described the new Texas law as unconstitutional. Boynton emphasized that it interferes with the federal government’s immigration enforcement responsibilities. The DOJ’s argument references the 2012 Supreme Court case of Arizona v. United States, where it was established that federal immigration laws typically supersede state laws, even in the absence of a direct conflict.
The DOJ has set a deadline of January 3 for Texas to abandon enforcement of this new law, threatening to seek all available legal remedies to prevent Texas from disrupting federal government functions.
Governor Abbott has countered this warning on social media. He criticized the Biden administration for what he perceives as a failure to enforce existing U.S. immigration laws and accused them of attempting to prevent Texas from implementing its laws against illegal immigration. Abbott asserts that his actions are in response to what he views as the Biden administration’s disregard for the rule of law and its detrimental effects on America, claiming that Texas is attempting to rectify the situation.
This legislation represents a further step in Abbott’s ongoing efforts to mitigate the impact of migration into Texas, which have included sending migrants to sanctuary cities and authorizing more border wall construction.
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