The Supreme Court extends block of Texas SB4 law

• SB4 blocked by the Supreme Court.
• The Texas law would allow police to arrest immigrants.
• It’s a victory for civil rights.

On Monday, the United States Supreme Court indefinitely extended its injunction against Texas SB4, according to The Associated Press.

SB4 would grant police extensive authority to detain migrants suspected of illegally entering the country.

The Supreme Court’s injunction against the law is the resolution of the legal battle it provoked regarding federal vs. state authority.

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SB4 blocked by Supreme Court

The one-page order signed by Justice Samuel Alito extends the suspension «until further notice.»

Critics have referred to the law as the most drastic attempt by a state to control immigration since more than 10 years ago.

That was an Arizona immigration law, parts of which the Supreme Court overturned.

The Texas law is known as Senate Bill 4 or SB4 for short.

An ongoing crisis at the border

The Texas Attorney General has stated that the state law mirrors federal law and that it «was adopted to address the ongoing crisis at the southern border, which hurts Texans more than anyone else.»

The federal government filed a lawsuit to invalidate the bill, arguing that it represents a usurpation of federal authority on immigration matters.

It also argues that it harms international relations and creates chaos in the enforcement of immigration laws.

Civil rights advocacy groups argue that the initiative could lead to civil rights violations and racial profiling.

SB4 is similar to Arizona’s ‘show me your papers’ bill

A federal judge in Texas blocked the law at the end of February, but the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals quickly suspended that ruling.

This led the federal government to file an appeal with the Supreme Court.

In 2012, the Supreme Court overturned key parts of an Arizona law that would have allowed police to detain individuals for federal immigration violations.

That was a measure often referred to by critics as the «show me your papers» law.

Immigration is at the forefront of presidential campaigns

In a divided ruling, the court determined that the stalemate in Washington regarding immigration reform did not justify state intrusion.

The battle against SB4 is one of several legal disputes between Texas officials and the Biden administration.

This revolves around how far the state can go to monitor the border with Mexico and prevent illegal border crossings.

Several Republican colleagues have backed Governor Greg Abbott’s efforts, asserting that the federal government is not doing enough to enforce existing immigration laws.

The case is being decided at a time when an unprecedented number of asylum seekers are arriving in the US, and immigration is taking center stage in the lead-up to the November presidential elections.