The U.S. Supreme Court sided with Texas on Mar 19 2024, endorsing the state’s right to enforce SB4, a stringent immigration statute criminalizing illegal border crossings into Texas.

SB4 authorizes law enforcement to detain individuals suspected of illegal entry and to scrutinize their immigration status, with increased penalties for those who have been previously expelled or barred.

The ruling reflects the ideological divide of the Supreme Court, with the conservative majority prevailing and liberal Justice Sonia Sotomayor cautioning against potential disarray in immigration control.

Local authorities such as Tarrant County Sheriff and Fort Worth Police Chief back the law, while adversaries warn it could deteriorate community trust and lead to unwarranted detentions.

This ruling intensifies the ongoing conflict between Texas and the Biden administration and is poised to significantly influence U.S. immigration policy and the interplay between federal and state authority.