The governor of Texas plans to sign a law Monday that will allow state law enforcement to detain people suspected of illegally crossing the border between USA and Mexicogranting local agents powers that for a long time belonged to the federal government.
The move will likely trigger legal challenges from human rights groups.
The law, known as SB 4, will go into effect in March and will make illegal entry or re-entry into Texas a new state crime, with penalties ranging from 180 days in jail to 20 years in prison.
Texas trial judges will be forced to order migrants to return to Mexico, with sentences of up to 20 years for those who refuse to comply with the decision.
Migrants who cross illegally can already be charged with illegal entry or re-entry under existing US federal law, enforced by border agents and federal prosecutors.
Gov. Greg Abbott is also expected to sign a bill that would allocate $1.5 billion for border wall construction and other operations, funding that adds to the $5 billion in state funds already allocated for law enforcement. borders.
At the end of November, the Republican governor had signed a law that toughens penalties for human trafficking.
Since President Joe Biden, a Democrat, took office in 2021, a record number of migrants have been caught crossing the U.S.-Mexico border. Abbott and other Republicans blame Biden for rolling back the restrictive policies of former President Donald Trump, the Republican Party’s leading candidate.
Source: Gestion
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