DOJ Threatens to Sue Texas Over New Immigration Law

The Justice Department threatened to sue Texas if it enforced a new immigration law empowering local officials and judges to arrest and deport migrants entering the U.S. illegally.   

Key Quotes: In a letter to Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, the DOJ said the new law was “unconstitutional and will disrupt the federal government’s operations,” adding, “The United States will pursue all appropriate legal remedies to ensure that Texas does not interfere with the functions of the federal government.” The letter also cited a 2012 Supreme Court decision holding that deportations “must be ‘entrusted to the discretion of the Federal Government’.” In response, Abbott accused President Joe Biden of “destroying America” and trying to “stop Texas from enforcing laws against illegal immigration.”

For Context: While immigration enforcement normally falls under federal jurisdiction, Texas’ new law challenges this jurisdiction by making crossing the border without permission a state offense. Abbott has said the law would “protect Texans from President Biden’s dangerous open border policies”; the White House labeled the law “incredibly extreme.”

How the Media Covered It: Most coverage was fairly similar; some right-rated outlets highlighted Abbott’s statements. Some coverage in left-rated outlets noted “ripples of fear throughout the Latino community in Texas” and “immense pressure” placed on local resources.