The Texas governor, Greg Abbott, is poised to sign SB 4, a bill that criminalizes crossing into the state without documentation, marking one of the most severe immigration policies in the United States. The legislation, currently awaiting final approval from Abbott, has sparked controversy and legal scrutiny.
Abbott expressed eagerness to sign the bill via Twitter, stating, “I look forward to signing Senate Bill 4, which creates penalties for illegal entry into Texas & authorizes the removal of illegal immigrants apprehended at the border.”
SB 4 designates illegal entry into Texas from another country without proper documentation as a state misdemeanor, carrying a potential sentence of up to two years in prison. Notably, the law empowers state judges to mandate the return of individuals to the country they crossed from, under threat of prosecution. Refusal to comply could result in felony charges and a 20-year prison term.
Critics, including legal advocates and Democrats, have raised concerns about the bill’s legality, emphasizing that the authority to remove noncitizens falls under federal jurisdiction. Additionally, experts warn of potential disputes with Mexico and other countries that may choose not to cooperate with state officials.
Opponents within Texas, such as Representative Jolanda Jones, have labeled SB 4 and its supporters as “racist.” Democratic representatives and advocates decried the bill, considering it both problematic and a misallocation of state funds.
In response to the passage of SB 4, the Texas Civil Rights Project, a social justice non-profit, criticized the legislation for creating an “entirely new, separate, unequal immigration system in the US.” They argued that it allows police to act as “both judge and jury to determine a person’s right to stay in the US.”
Immigrant rights organizations staged protests outside the Texas House to voice their opposition to the bill. SB 4 was part of a separate legislative session requested by Governor Abbott, focusing on anti-immigration measures.
As the bill awaits final approval, its potential ramifications and legal challenges add to the ongoing debate surrounding immigration policies in the United States.
