A federal appeals court issued a halt to a new Texas immigration law Tuesday night, shortly after the Supreme Court greenlit its implementation.
In a brief order, a three-judge panel from the New Orleans-based 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, voting 2-1, directed that the measure (SB4) be suspended. The same court is scheduled to deliberate on the matter Wednesday morning.
The state law would grant police authority to detain migrants unlawfully crossing the border from Mexico and impose criminal sanctions. Additionally, it would authorize state judges to issue deportation orders to Mexico.
The Supreme Court earlier on Tuesday paved the way for the law's implementation by dismissing emergency appeals from the Biden administration and other parties.
Hours later, the appeals court arranged oral arguments to deliberate on whether to halt the law while it considers the legal disputes surrounding it. The court scheduled Wednesday's virtual oral arguments for 11 a.m. ET.
Irrespective of the 5th Circuit's decision following Wednesday's arguments, the appeals court is scheduled to conduct hearings next month to determine the law's constitutionality and whether it should be permanently blocked.
