AUSTIN, Texas — The Trump administration has taken steps to dismiss a lawsuit initiated by the Biden administration against Texas concerning a state law designed to permit local law enforcement to arrest migrants who cross the border illegally. This decision comes shortly after similar lawsuits against Iowa and Oklahoma were also dismissed by the administration.
The Biden administration had previously filed a lawsuit against Texas, claiming that the law, known as Senate Bill 4, was unconstitutional and overstepped federal authority. Signed into law by Republican Governor Greg Abbott in 2023, this legislation allows police to arrest individuals for illegal entry and grants judges the power to order them to leave the country. The law briefly took effect last year before a federal appeals court placed it on hold.
Governor Abbott enacted this bill as a response to what he perceives as the federal government’s failure to properly enforce immigration laws.
The Trump administration’s recent actions reflect its ongoing stance against lawsuits targeting states like Iowa and Oklahoma, which have similar laws enabling local authorities to detain and prosecute undocumented immigrants.
Experts and critics have noted that Texas’ law is among the most comprehensive of its kind, empowering police statewide to enforce immigration regulations.
This measure is part of Governor Abbott’s broader strategy to assert more state control over immigration policy during the Biden administration, which has included transporting thousands of migrants to Democratic-run cities and installing barriers in the Rio Grande to discourage crossings from Mexico.
