Governor Greg Abbott of Texas on Monday signed a strict legislation, making it a criminal offence to enter the state illegally crossing the southern border, sparking a potential clash with President Joe Biden’s administration over immigration policy and border enforcement.
The law allows authorities of the American state to arrest illegal immigrants crossing the southern border, NBC News reported.
Abbott, a Republican who has implemented other policies directed at migrants that have drawn court challenges, signed the bill at an event in Browns-ville, Texas.
“Biden’s deliberate inaction has left Texas to fend for itself,” Abbott said, adding that the bill’s goal was to “stop the tidal wave of illegal entry into Texas.”
Meanwhile, crossing into the United States between designated ports of entry is already a crime under federal law.
Abbott’s signature follows the Republican-controlled state Legislature’s approval of the measure and Washington’s negotiations on an immigration deal in exchange for additional aid to Ukraine and Israel which is a high priority for the White House.
Texas authorities have been arresting migrants on state misdemeanour charges of criminal trespassing under Operation Lone Star, a border enforcement program.
However, the new law makes it a misdemeanour to enter Texas from a foreign county at any location other than a lawful port of entry, set to take effect in March.
It is unclear whether the Department of Justice (DOJ) will sue Texas over the new law after a letter signed by a group of 21 Texas Democrats and members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus called for the DOJ to step in and block the new legislation.
