The Mexican government criticized Texas’ immigration law that allows police officers to arrest migrants suspected of illegally entering the state.

The Supreme Court allowed SB4 to go into effect while litigation continues in the Appeals Court.

Supreme Court Allows Texas Law Permitting Police Officers To Arrest Migrants To Go Into Effect

In a press release, Mexico's Foreign Ministry condemned the legislation.

"On behalf of the Government of Mexico, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemns the entry into force of Texas law SB4, which seeks to stop the flow of migrants by criminalizing them, and encouraging the separation of families, discrimination and racial profiling that violate the human rights of the migrant community," the press release read.

"Mexico categorically rejects any measure that allows state or local authorities to exercise immigration control, and to arrest and return nationals or foreigners to Mexican territory," it continued.

"Mexico recognizes the importance of a uniform migration policy and the bilateral efforts with the United States to ensure that migration is safe, orderly and respectful of human rights, and is not affected by state or local legislative decisions. In this regard, Mexico will not accept, under any circumstances, repatriations by the State of Texas," it added.

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Fox News reports:

Furthermore, Mexico plans to file a friend-of-the-court brief with the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans to provide information on the impact that SB 4 will have on Mexican and Mexican-American communities, including the impact on Mexican-U.S. relations.

Opponents of SB 4, which allows Texas authorities to arrest illegal immigrants who could face deportation or jail time, have heavily criticized the law. In a 6-3 decision, the high court on Tuesday said the statute can be enforced while it remains pending in a federal appeals court.

While the SCOTUS ruling was praised by Republicans, Democrats largely went in the opposite direction.

Rep. Veronica Escobar, a Texas Democrat, said the law will cause "extensive" damage to Latino communities while creating confusion for Texas law enforcement and judges.

From the Associated Press:

Under the Texas law, once defendants are in custody on illegal entry charges, they can agree to a judge’s order to leave the U.S. or face prosecution. On Tuesday, Mexico’s Foreign Affairs Secretary said in a sharply worded statement that it would refuse to take anyone back who is ordered to cross the border.

“Mexico reiterates the legitimate right to protect the rights of its nationals in the United States and to determine its own policies regarding entry into its territory,” the government said.

The impact extends far beyond the Texas border. Republican legislators wrote the law so that it applies in all of the state’s 254 counties, although Steve McCraw, the director of the Texas Department of Public Safety, has said he expects it will mostly be enforced near the border.

Other GOP-led states are already looking to follow Texas’ path. In Iowa, the state House gave final approval Tuesday to a bill that would also give its state law enforcement the power to arrest people who are in the U.S. illegally and have previously been denied entry into the country.

It now goes to Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds. If signed, it would take effect in July.

“The federal government has abdicated its responsibilities and states can and must act,” Republican Iowa state Rep. Steven Holt said.

In Texas, El Paso County Judge Ricardo Samaniego, the top county executive, said immigration enforcement should remain a federal, not state, responsibility, echoing the Biden administration’s view. He said heightened law enforcement presence in the city of El Paso during a previous migrant surge brought high-speed chases and traffic stops based on assumptions that passengers were in the country illegally.

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