NEWS: CHC Chair, CHC Texas Members Urge Biden Administration to Challenge Anti-Immigrant Bill if Signed by Governor Abbott

WASHINGTON, DC — Today, Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) ChairNanette Barragán (CA-44) and CHC Texas Members Reps. Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Veronica Escobar (TX-16), Sylvia Garcia (TX-29), Greg Casar (TX-35), and Vicente Gonzalez (TX-34) issued the following joint statement in response to reports that Texas Governor Greg Abbott will soon sign Texas Senate Bill (SB) 4 into law, authorizing state law enforcement to arrest and prosecute people suspected of unlawful entry into the United States: 

“We strongly urge Governor Greg Abbott to veto anti-immigrant bill, SB 4, and to block additional policies that will exacerbate racial profiling in the Lone Star State. From Operation Lone Star to SB 4, Abbott has shown a total disregard for the rule of law and the well-being of his constituents. SB 4 is an unconstitutional usurpation of federal authority over immigration enforcement that will undermine the rights of asylum-seekers and put innocent people at risk of harassment and targeting on the basis of their suspected immigration status. 

"State law enforcement officers and judges will be asked to enforce immigration law with little training or preparation – raising the likelihood of serious civil rights violations and eroding trust between people of color and local police departments if SB 4 becomes law. There are better methods to address our broken immigration system. 

"If SB 4 is signed into Texas law by Governor Abbott, we strongly urge the Biden administration to challenge the legislation, especially given that there is legal precedent established from Arizona v. United States.”

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