HOUSTON – Houston area immigrant civil rights group FIEL responded to the temporary halt of Senate Bill 4 Friday.
Federal judge David Ezra in Austin halted the law, which would have allowed Texas police to arrest people suspected of crossing the Texas-Mexico border illegally.
FIEL representatives praised the judge’s decision, but also say they understand this is the first of many legal hurdles they will face with this bill.
“We still have a long road ahead when it comes to this issue,” said FIEL’s executive director Cesar Espinosa.
“This is now more than likely going to go to the circuit courts and then eventually make its way to the Supreme Court,” he cautioned.
As the process plays out, FIEL says they are committed to ensuring immigrants know their rights by holding workshops on ways they can protect themselves.
FIEL was joined by State Rep. John Rosenthal of House District 135, who is also against the law.
“I am grateful to Judge David Ezra for the temporary pause in enacting this law,” Rosenthal said.
“It demonizes immigrants and it encourages profiling,” he added.
Gov. Greg Abbott signed SB 4 in December as part of an ongoing effort to deter people from crossing the Rio Grande after several years of record numbers of migrants arriving at the Texas-Mexico border.
In a statement, Abbott said the state “will not back down in our fight” and that he expects this case would eventually be decided by the U.S. Supreme Court.
On social media, he wrote that he is “not worried” because “this was fully expected.”
“Texas has solid legal grounds to defend against an invasion,” he added.