Table of Contents
The Supreme Court has allowed Texas to start enforcing a controversial law. This law lets state officials arrest and detain people they suspect of entering the country illegally. Legal challenges are ongoing, but Texas has won a temporary victory against the Biden administration’s immigration policies.
News Reading in Levels
Beginner Level: Supreme Court Allows Texas to Enforce Strict Immigration Law
The Supreme Court said Texas can start enforcing a new immigration law. This law allows state police to arrest people they think entered the U.S. illegally.
The law makes illegal entry into Texas a state crime. State judges can order immigrants to be deported back to their home countries.
Immigration groups are worried the law could lead to more racial profiling and wrongful arrests of Latinos, who make up 40% of Texas’ population.
Before the ruling, a federal judge had blocked the law from taking effect. But an appeals court temporarily allowed it on March 10 if the Supreme Court didn’t act.
The Supreme Court’s decision is a win for Texas. But legal challenges to the law will continue in the appeals court.
Enforce – To make people obey a law
Suspect – To think that someone has done something illegal
Deport – To force someone to leave a country
Racial profiling – Treating people differently based on their race
Temporary – For a short time only
Intermediate Level: Supreme Court Allows Controversial Texas Immigration Law to Take Effect
In a controversial move, the Supreme Court has cleared the way for Texas to immediately start enforcing a divisive immigration law. The law, Senate Bill 4, makes entering Texas illegally a state crime and empowers state judges to order immigrants’ deportation – a role typically reserved for the federal government.
The court’s decision lifts a temporary pause and hands a significant, albeit temporary, victory to Texas in its immigration policy battle with the Biden administration. Legal challenges are ongoing in a federal appeals court.
The law raised alarms among immigration advocates who fear increased racial profiling and unwarranted detentions of Latinos, who comprise 40% of Texas’ population. A federal judge had initially blocked it, but an appeals court granted a temporary stay allowing it to take effect on March 10 if the Supreme Court didn’t intervene.
Divisive – Causing disagreement between groups
Albeit – Though, although
Unwarranted – Not justified or needed
Comprise – To make up, constitute
Intervene – To become involved in order to change something
Native Level: Supreme Court Allows Contentious Texas Immigration Enforcement Law to Proceed
In a contentious decision, the Supreme Court has permitted Texas to begin enforcing a controversial state immigration law that endows state authorities with powers typically reserved for the federal government regarding immigration enforcement.
The law, Senate Bill 4, criminalizes the act of entering Texas illegally and empowers state judges to order deportations – a role that has traditionally fallen under the purview of federal immigration authorities. This flies in the face of long-standing precedent relegating immigration enforcement to the federal domain.
The order represents a significant, albeit temporary, triumph for Texas in its protracted battle with the Biden administration over immigration policies. However, the law continues to face legal challenges in a federal appeals court.
The legislation sparked outcry from immigration advocacy groups, who decried it as a vehicle for racial profiling and unwarranted detention of Latinos, who account for 40% of the state’s populace. A federal judge had initially enjoined the law’s implementation, but an appeals court later issued a temporary stay allowing it to take effect on March 10th unless the Supreme Court intervened.
Contentious – Causing heated disagreement
Endow – To provide with a quality or ability
Purview – An area of authority or responsibility
Precedent – An earlier event regarded as an example
Enjoin – To prohibit or prevent by legal order
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The Bottom Line
This ruling allows a controversial change, but more legal battles lie ahead. Advocates fear it could lead to profiling and wrongful detentions of Latino residents. The federal government traditionally handles immigration, so giving states this power is highly disputed. Hopefully, reasonable solutions can be reached that respect human rights while addressing security concerns.
References
- CNN: Supreme Court allows Texas to begin enforcing controversial immigration law
- The HILL: Mike Collins calls Texas migrant deportation law ruling a ‘great win for America’
