Immigration enforcement continues to ramp up not only in Texas following passage of Senate Bill 4, but also throughout the country. The growing chorus of protests includes unlikely critics.
Growing resistance to Texas' new immigration laws
Legal battles are looming after Gov. Greg Abbott signed the controversial Senate Bill 4 in spite of heavy opposition from leaders in the state’s major metropolitan areas. The law set to go into effect on September 1 could extend federal immigration enforcement into local police departments.
The continued criminalization of undocumented immigrants
Changes to the nation’s immigration and enforcement laws, if not the entire apparatus continue. The latest volley by Republican lawmaker has taken the form of legislation currently going through the committee process with little notice.
A Texas travel advisory over new immigration laws
The fallout from Texas’ new immigration law continues. Protests within and outside that state border continue. The campaign promises of Gov. Greg Abbott have become a welcome relief for some and a harsh reality for others.
Is this the end of sanctuary cities in Texas?
As Texas prisons, both public and private, begin to fill up with undocumented immigrants that have criminal records, more cells may be necessary. Sanctuary cities have been in the crosshairs since the election of Gov. Greg Abbott. However, a new law may also target state law enforcement officials.
Is Texas on its way to becoming a “papers please” state?
Since his election in 2014, Texas Governor Gregg Abbott has made it his mission to end sanctuary policies in the Lone Star State. He even cited the issue as an emergency item in his State of the State address.
How do Texans feel about state and federal immigration policies?
When it comes to the subject of undocumented immigration, few states – border and otherwise – have been swept to the forefront of prominence more than Texas. Seemingly every day, new disputes arise as existing controversies continue to percolate.
The end of "catch and release?"
As the Trump administration continues to increase their enforcement of immigration laws, cases languish, numbering more than a half a billion. Thousands of nonviolent undocumented immigrants, including asylum seekers, remain locked in detention centers with their legal status in an uncertain “gray area.”
Jails for sale?
In spite of a presidential Executive Order-inspired ramp-up in immigration law enforcement efforts, many Texas county jails continue to struggle with a diminished population and growing debts. Detention centers have few, if any prisoners to fill their cellblocks.
Does automatic acquisition apply to your situation?
Many Texas residents came to the United States from other lands. Others are U.S. citizens planning marriages to people who are not yet citizens. You or someone you love may be familiar with the often complex and confusing laws pertaining to immigration. For example, a process known as "automatic acquisition" is primarily associated with children born outside the U.S. and/or children with one citizen-parent and one non-citizen parent. It can be quite challenging to understand the regulations that govern such matters.
