Appeals court blocks sweeping arrest powers for Texas police, ending – for now – what could have sparked confusion along US border
It was only for a few hours that Texas law SB4, which allows state police to arrest people suspected of crossing the border illegally, was in effect, and the Associated Press reports that it does not appear anyone was detained under its provisions.
The law is currently being wrangled over at the appeals court level, and may again wind up before the supreme court, where the conservative justices yesterday allowed it to go into force, without ruling on its merits.
Heightened law enforcement presence in the city of El Paso during a previous migrant surge brought high-speed chases and traffic stops based on assumptions that passengers were in the country illegally. “We had accidents, we had injuries, we got a little glimpse of what would happen if the state begins to control what happens in respect to immigration,” Samaniego said.
“It’s very clear that Greg Abbott wants to enforce the law so he can get lots of photo ops and opportunities, but it’s gonna take a lot of state resources to implement. And I don’t know, in fact, how much appetite and capacity for that the state government actually has.”
“As long as the federal government is willing to do its part that it is supposed to be doing, it is ideal for them to take possession and custody of these people.”
Congress is working on a final batch of government spending bills ahead of a Friday deadline to pass them and prevent a partial government shutdown. Party leaders yesterday announced a deal on the funding, but it still needs to be approved by the full Senate and House of Representatives.
Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, will reportedly address Senate Republicans at their lunch. Last week, the chamber’s Democratic leader, Chuck Schumer, called for new elections to be held.
The Federal Reserve will decide whether or not to keep interest rates at their high level when their regular policy meeting concludes at 2pm ET.