The Supreme Court has put a temporary stop to Texas' controversial immigration law, which would have allowed state law enforcement to arrest and detain individuals suspected of entering the country illegally. Justice Samuel Alito issued an administrative hold, delaying the law's implementation until March 13. This pause will give the court more time to review the case, although it does not indicate the court's eventual decision.
The Biden administration and several immigration groups had urgently requested the Supreme Court to block the law's enforcement. If the law had been allowed to take effect on March 10, it would have significantly changed the longstanding relationship between the United States and states regarding immigration for nearly 150 years.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed Senate Bill 4 into law in December, sparking concerns about increased racial profiling and detentions by state authorities. Latinos make up 40% of Texas' population, adding to these concerns.
Last week, a federal judge in Austin blocked the state government from implementing the law, stating that allowing SB 4 to proceed could lead to each state passing its own immigration laws. However, a federal appeals court temporarily stayed the lower court's decision over the weekend, indicating that the law could still take effect later this week if the Supreme Court had not intervened.