OPINION: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.
The U.S. Supreme Court has dealt another blow to Gov. Greg Abbott’s efforts to secure his state’s border with Mexico after years of dealing with migrant surges thanks to President Joe Biden’s lack of enforcement.
Justice Samuel Alito, who oversees the 5th Circuit district, further delayed Texas’ implementation of its immigrant deportation laws related to Senate Bill 4, Newsweek reported. The deadline is now extended until 5 p.m. on March 18th.
The new law was set to go into effect later this month and would allow for the arrest of people who are illegally in the state and country.
Earlier, “Alito issued the administrative hold, which will block the law from taking effect until March 13. That temporary pause will give the court additional time to review the case but does not necessarily signal which way the court is leaning,” CNN reported at the time.
The order came after several pro-mass immigration groups and the Biden administration filed an emergency application with the nation’s highest court after an appeals court gave Texas the green light to begin enforcing its law.
CNN added: “Senate Bill 4, signed into law by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott in December, immediately raised concerns among immigration advocates about increased racial profiling as well as detentions and attempted deportations by state authorities in Texas, where Latinos represent 40% of the population. Last week, a federal judge in Austin, Texas, blocked the state government from implementing the law.”
“If allowed to proceed, SB 4 could open the door to each state passing its version of immigration laws,” Judge David Alan Ezra wrote in his ruling that the federal appeals court eventually overturned.
The case comes after Biden visited Brownsville, Texas, ostensibly to address the chaotic border Republicans say he created when he revoked nearly all of former President Donald Trump’s strict enforcement policies on his first day in office.
The union representing the U.S. Border Patrol chided and mocked Biden after he visited a sector in Texas last week that does not get a lot of illegal migrant activity.
Biden’s visit drew the ire of the nation’s premier border protection service as the union appeared to characterize the trip as window dressing in an election year as illegal immigration shoots to the top of the list of concerns among a majority of Americans.
“Board AF1, take nap. Wake up in place called Brownsville,” the group wrote on the X platform in a joking about Biden’s itinerary. “Read large teleprompter message, ‘It’s all Trump’s fault.’ Board AF1, ask who people in green uniforms were, told they ‘strap’ illegal aliens, express horror, take nap. Wake up, call a lid, hit beach, take nap.”
Board AF1, take nap.
Wake up in place called Brownsville.
Read large teleprompter message, "It's all Trump's fault".
Board AF1, ask who people in green uniforms were, told they "strap" illegal aliens, express horror, take nap.
Wake up, call a lid, hit beach, take nap. pic.twitter.com/exvsDieaVW
— Border Patrol Union – NBPC (@BPUnion) March 2, 2024
During Biden’s border visit, he blamed Republicans in Congress for failing to get on board an immigration reform bill he said would give him the authorities he needs to implement stricter enforcement. He also blamed former President Trump.
“The majority of Democrats and Republicans in both houses support this legislation,” Biden said in Brownsville, “until someone came along and said don’t do that that’ll benefit the incumbent. That’s a hell of a way to do business in America for such a serious problem.”
In fact, a majority of Republicans were against the bill because it would still allow up to 5,000 illegal migrants in the country daily while also providing tens of billions more in aid to war-torn Ukraine.
Biden’s White House announced his trip after Trump had already said he would visit the border. Trump and Biden went on the same day, with Trump going to Eagle Pass, Texas, instead, one of the busiest illegal entry points.
There, he toured with Gov. Greg Abbott (R), the head of the Texas National Guard, and various elected officials and law enforcement.
