Texas Legislature Clears Bill Allowing Local Police to Arrest Unauthorized Migrants

New state-level offense of illegally crossing the border from Mexico into Texas challenges federal authority over immigration; Governor Abbott to sign bill escalating aggressive law enforcement policies amid increasing migrant crossings.

The Texas Legislature has passed a bill challenging federal immigration powers, which allows local police to arrest unauthorized migrants crossing from Mexico, escalating aggressive law enforcement policies.
The bill forms part of Governor Greg Abbott's Operation Lone Star border security program, with an additional $1.5 billion approved for Texas to construct its own barriers near the international boundary.
The new state-level crime of illegal entry authorizes Texas officers to arrest migrants, including asylum seekers, an area of immigration enforcement typically reserved to the federal government, raising potential conflicts with federal law and policy.
There is no provision for asylum claims in the state legislation, presenting challenges to existing coordination between Texas law enforcement officers and U.S. Border Patrol.
The bill has sparked contentious debates and is expected to escalate tensions between state and federal officials and within local communities, with fears it will result in targeting Hispanic Texans and inadvertently separating families.