Former US President Donald Trump was in Texas on Sunday to announce his new hardline immigration platform if he is elected back to the White House in 2024.
Trump appeared alongside Texas Governor Greg Abbott, who endorsed Trump’s presidential bid and is expected to soon sign the state’s immigration law, Senate Bill 4.
The new law would make it a state crime to cross into Texas from Mexico illegally, allowing Texas peace officers to arrest people they suspect of entering the country without proper documentation.
Immigrant advocates and Democrats have denounced the bill as racist legislation and are signalling a court challenge to SB4.
During a visit to Edinburg in the Rio Grande Valley on 19 November, former President Trump was endorsed by the governor of Texas for 2024.
“I’m here today to officially announce my support for Donald J. Trump to be president of the United States again,” Greg Abbott told the crowd before the former president’s remarks.
Governor Abbott called for a return to the Trump administration’s immigration policies, saying Title 42 and the Remain in Mexico programme had reduced migrant crossings into Texas.
“In total, under Joe Biden, more than 8 million people came across the border illegally,” Abbott said. “We’ve got to deal with that here in Texas.”
The state’s latest immigration policy: Senate Bill 4.
The governor is expected to sign the bill, which would make it a misdemeanour to cross into Texas from Mexico illegally.
The bill would allow local and state law enforcement to arrest people they suspect of entering the country illegally.
“To me, it’s downright racist, it’s a racist bill,” said Ramiro Luna, executive director of Somos Tejas.
Immigrant advocates have condemned the bill, calling it an attack on the Hispanic community in Texas.
The state’s latest immigration policy: Senate Bill 4.
The governor is expected to sign the bill, which would make it a misdemeanour to cross into Texas from Mexico illegally.
The bill would allow local and state law enforcement to arrest people they suspect of entering the country illegally.
“To me, it’s downright racist, it’s a racist bill,” said Ramiro Luna, executive director of Somos Tejas.
Immigrant advocates have condemned the bill, calling it an attack on the Hispanic community in Texas.
The organisation Somos Tejas said it’s planning a series of community meetings to help the public understand their rights if they are detained under SB4.
“It legalises racial profiling, and our community is the one that’s being targeted,” Luna said. “Communities of colour are the ones that are most at risk, and it’s something that’s really going to hurt the state as a whole.”
But if you are arrested under SB4, what are your rights?
One immigration attorney said that based on the 2012 US Supreme Court ruling in Arizona v. United States, only the federal government can enforce immigration law, not police, sheriff’s deputies or state troopers.
“It’s important to understand that constitutionally they do not have that authority,” said immigration attorney Haim Vasquez. “A person does not have to provide their status or any immigration documents to a law enforcement officer unless it’s requested through an ICE programme or ICE directly.”
Immigrant advocates said several organisations are planning to challenge SB4 in court.
But while the policy stands, experts said there are steps Texans can take to protect themselves.
“The most important thing is to find representation, to have documents that identify you by name, and also to not accept any information that is given to you unless you speak to a lawyer,” Vasquez said.
