Texas immigration law to take effect, with Texas law enforement now authorized to arrest and detain any illegal immigrants crossing the border

Texas immigration law to take effect, with Texas law enforement now authorized to arrest and detain any illegal immigrants crossing the border, per Bloomberg.

The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans has temporarily stayed a lower court's ruling that blocked a Texas law granting police broad powers to arrest migrants suspected of illegally entering the U.S.

"BREAKING HUGE NEWS Federal appeals court allows Texas immigration law to take effect. Law enforcement officers in Texas are now authorized to arrest & jail any illegal immigrants crossing the border," Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced on X, formerly known as Twitter.

The 5th Circuit's decision includes a seven-day stay to allow the federal government to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court, a step the Department of Justice took on Monday.

Unless the Supreme Court intervenes, the law will remain blocked until March 9, according to sources from the Texas Department of Public Safety.

Last Thursday, U.S. District Judge David Ezra halted the law, criticizing Texas' immigration enforcement efforts and dismissing Republican claims of an "invasion" along the southern border due to record-high illegal crossings.

Ezra argued that the law violated the Constitution's supremacy clause, clashed with federal immigration law, and could hinder U.S. foreign relations and treaty obligations.

Governor Abbott signed the bill in December, granting local judges the authority to order migrants to leave the country, pushing the boundaries of state enforcement of immigration laws. Originally scheduled to take effect on March 5, the law was aimed at curbing illegal entries into Texas.

"These laws will help stop the tidal wave of illegal entry into Texas," Abbott stated.