AMNA NAWAZ: Welcome to the” News Hour”.
A contentious immigration laws in Texas is now back in the hands of an appeals court after a number of legitimate turbulences.
GEOFF BENNETT: The legislation gives state officials the power to arrest workers whom they believe crossed into the U. S. improperly.
A federal appeals court put the law up on hold after a Supreme Court decision yesterday allowed Texas to enact it, and a three-judge board heard arguments now regarding whether it should be enforced.
Gaige Davila from Texas Public Radio has covered all of this for the past few years and is now with me.
But, Gaige, the last 24 days have really been authorized pain for this legislation known as S. B. 4.
As we speak then, where do issues remain with the law and its implementation?
GAIGE DAVILA, Texas Public Radio: Also, straight now, S. B. 4 is no rules.
In the spring of April, a second hearing is scheduled to determine whether to let some of the law’s provisions to maintain while the case is being heard.
The state met to discuss it in court now, so it was.
And, first, Texas argued that this law may be enforced while prosecution against it is pending.
However, the state asked by the end of the reading and some questionsing from the judges if at the very least state officers was detained immigrants and turn them over to federal immigration authorities.
However, the judges claimed that this was already done in accordance with current trespassing rules because workers had already been detained as part of Operation Lone Star.
But just to understand, that law is no laws, even though it was for a few hours yesterday night.
AMNA NAWAZ: But, Gaige, what are you hearing from those Texas position authorities, the police departments and sheriff’s sections on the ground?
Are they prepared and equipped to carry out this kind of legislation?
GAIGE DAVILA: I think, with authorities, there’s about a rousing uncertainty how to maintain this legislation, because officers are not trained for immigration enforcement, which adds to how much police are used as solvents to what are inevitably policy issues.
For instance, the San Antonio-based Baird County judge has cited how enforcing this legislation makes the office incredibly liable if they arrest someone unfairly.
There is a fear of increased racial stereotyping in border towns as well as in the position as a whole on the legal and advocacy front.
And there’s concerns on how specifically this would even be carried out, best, in terms of persecution.
Mexico has already stated that it will not accept deportations from Texas, and the state did n’t explain the process when it was in court today.
AMNA NAWAZ: What are you hearing from any Border Patrol leaders?
These national officers are tasked with and have the authority to carry out border security in these places.
With these unprecedented numbers that we’re seeing at the southern boundary of the United States, they are getting more stretched.
Do they want express police officers to be able to accomplish this?
GAIGE DAVILA: Well, generally Border Patrol do employ police or sheriff officials when they need the support.
However, as far as I’m aware, they have n’t commented on this particular plan or whether it will benefit them.
However, I do know that Eagle Pass’s Border Patrol and Texas National Guard are now at odds over what and where they can do.
B.P.
has called for more solutions before, which was part of a bill that has reportedly stalled in Congress, of training, but authorities is not actually part of that.
AMNA NAWAZ: Well, earlier now, we may observe, Texas Governor Greg Abbott was speaking at a Texas plan conference.
He reiterated his support for S. B. 4, even as it pinballs through the judges.
Here’s part of what he had to declare.
GOV.
Texas has a right to defend itself, and we will use that authority to declare an war and battle up against it, according to GREG ABBOTT (R-TX)!
AMNA NAWAZ: Gaige, as you know, this has really fueled a substantial- bets state and federal conflict between Governor Abbott and the Biden management.
What effects does this have besides multiculturalism and Texas?
GAIGE DAVILA: I believe that this is an attempt to define Operation Lone Star without having the necessary real system to carry it out. As activists and some Democratic members of Congress have pointed out, these are eventually policy issues rather than policing problems.
But what is happening here is that the state is trying to codify culture war issues as policy that do n’t address the needs of people in border communities or the state as a whole, much like it has happened with abortion rights over the last few years.
In fact, it kind of outright harms them.
So the implication is that there are efforts to address these and other issues through policy that are frequently blocked by a nationalist wing of the GOP.
And it is likely to continue without any kind of federal or congressional approval.
AMNA NAWAZ: So you mentioned this before is not law now.
What do you think will happen next?
GAIGE DAVILA: Well, it’s going to be a waiting game for these next few weeks in the courts until it is heard on again.
But, at least, at the very least, Texas police cannot arrest migrants for seeking asylum, which they are legally allowed to do so.
So, as of now, nothing can move on that law, but it will just be a waiting game until early April.
AMNA NAWAZ: Gaige Davila of Texas Public Radio joining us tonight.
Gaige, thank you very much.
GAIGE DAVILA: Thank you so much.
