Supreme Court Temporarily Blocks Texas Law That Allows Police to Arrest Migrants

The Supreme Court on Monday temporarily blocked a Texas law that allowed state law enforcement officers to arrest migrants entering the United States from Mexico.

In an order signed by Justice Samuel Alito, the high court blocked Texas from enacting the law until March 13, giving the state until March 11 to respond to the Justice Department’s request asking to pause the law from taking place.

The Justice Department had filed an emergency request Monday asking the Supreme Court to intervene, with Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar arguing that the law would alter the “status quo that has existed between the United States and the States in the context of immigration for almost 150 years.”

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Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) signed the legislation into law last December, giving any Texas law enforcement officer the power to arrest those who are suspected of entering the country illegally. After being arrested, the migrants would either agree to a judge’s order making them leave the U.S. or be charged on misdemeanor charges of illegal entry under the new law.

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