Texas immigration law SB4 returns to court in legal whiplash

A whirlwind legal back-and-forth over Texas’ strict new immigration law will continue Wednesday when the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals considers whether to allow Texas to enforce the law while assessing its constitutionality — a decision that could redefine immigration policies nationwide.

The oral arguments follow a late-night order Tuesday from a 5th Circuit panel that temporarily put on hold again the bill known as Senate Bill 4. Earlier Tuesday, the U.S. Supreme Court allowed the law to take effect, rejecting a request from the Biden administration to stop the enforcement of SB 4 as it undergoes challenges in lower courts.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security claims SB4 complicates its responsibilities, stating they “do not have the authority to take actions that assist the enforcement of SB4.”