Biden administration threatens to sue Texas over strict immigration law

SB4 would effectively criminalize actions that are already illegal at the federal level, undermine relations with Mexico and prevent officials from enforcing federal immigration laws.
Texas has already passed a new law that will expand the authority to make arrests and give local judges the authority to order migrants out of the country. The changes go into effect in March.
The Biden administration has warned Texas that it will sue the state if SB4, a strict immigration law, is implemented.
The initiative allows border landowners to enter agreements with the state authorizing trespassing arrests, clearing the way for law enforcement to apprehend migrants who enter the US through those properties.
The new law signed by Abbott from taking effect, calling it an unconstitutional overreach that encroaches on the U.S. government's immigration authority.
Biden administration threatens to sue Texas over strict immigration law

The Biden administration has warned Texas that it will sue the state if SB4, a strict immigration law, is implemented. The Justice Department said that SB4 would effectively criminalize actions that are already illegal at the federal level, undermine relations with Mexico and prevent officials from enforcing federal immigration laws. If Texas does not heed the Biden administration's demand, the United States intends to file suit to enjoin the enforcement of SB4. The state has already passed a new law that will expand the authority to make arrests and give local judges the authority to order migrants out of the country. The changes go into effect in March. The initiative allows border landowners to enter agreements with the state authorizing trespassing arrests, clearing the way for law enforcement to apprehend migrants who enter the US through those properties. The new law signed by Abbott from taking effect, calling it an unconstitutional overreach that encroaches on the U.S. government's immigration authority.



Confidence

100%

No Doubts Found At Time Of Publication

Sources

84%

  • Unique Points
    • The Biden administration has warned Texas that it will sue the state if SB4, a strict immigration law, is implemented.
    • SB4 would make unauthorized immigration a state crime, ranging from a misdemeanor to a felony.
    • Entering Texas illegally from Mexico would be treated as a misdemeanor crime, punishable by up to 180 days in jail and a fine of up to $2,000.
    • Illegal reentry into Texas would be a felony offense, punishable with up to 2, 10 or 20 years in jail, depending on whether the migrant in question had been previously deported or convicted of certain crimes.
    • SB4 would also allow Texas magistrates to order migrants suspected of violating the illegal entry or reentry laws to return to Mexico as an alternative to continuing their prosecution.
    • Those found to violate those orders could be charged with a second-degree felony.
    • The Mexican government has already said it would not accept returns of migrants from Texas state officials, denouncing SB4 as an 'anti-immigrant' law.
    • Abbott and other supporters of SB4 have argued the law will deter illegal border crossings.
    • Critics of the law have said it will lead to racial profiling of people who look like migrants.
    • The law could backfire from a public safety perspective, overwhelming state and local jails and diverting law enforcement officials away from efforts to arrest serious criminals.
  • Accuracy
    No Contradictions at Time Of Publication
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Bias (80%)
    The article contains examples of political bias. The author uses language that depicts one side as extreme or unreasonable by stating that the Biden administration's legal threat shows 'hostility to the rule of law in America.' Additionally, the author uses language that implies that the Texas legislature is acting against the federal government by passing SB4. This is an example of political bias as it suggests that the actions of a state are not within its rights and that the federal government has a higher authority over immigration policy.
    • The Biden administration's legal threat shows 'hostility to the rule of law in America.'
      • This is an example of political bias as it suggests that the actions of a state are not within its rights and that the federal government has a higher authority over immigration policy.
      • Site Conflicts Of Interest (50%)
        The article reports on the threat of a lawsuit by the Biden administration against Texas if it implements its strict immigration law, SB4. The author does not disclose any conflicts of interest, but the site may have financial ties to the immigration industry or the Democratic Party, which could compromise its objectivity. The article does not provide any evidence for this possibility, nor does it mention the views of other stakeholders, such as human rights groups or immigrant advocates. Therefore, there are potential conflicts of interest that may affect the site's reporting on this topic.
        • Camilo Montoya-Galvez is a senior immigration reporter for CBS News, covering the Biden administration, Congress and the courts. He previously worked as an immigration correspondent for NBC News and a freelance journalist in Central America.
          • SB4, which was signed into law by Gov. Greg Abbott in 2017, has been blocked by federal courts, but could take effect if the Supreme Court lifts an injunction this month. The law has sparked protests and legal challenges from civil rights groups, who say it encourages racial profiling and violates the U.S. Constitution.
            • The Justice Department said it was reviewing the law, which allows police to question people about their immigration status if they suspect they are in the country illegally or have committed certain crimes. The department also said it would challenge any effort by Texas to enforce the law before the Supreme Court rules on a similar measure in Arizona.
            • Author Conflicts Of Interest (50%)
              The author has multiple conflicts of interest on the topics of immigration and Texas politics. The author is a member of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), which has been actively involved in challenging immigration laws in Texas. Additionally, the author has previously written articles critical of Governor Greg Abbott's immigration policies, including SB4. These conflicts of interest may compromise the author's ability to report on these topics objectively and impartially.
              • The author is a member of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), which has been actively involved in challenging immigration laws in Texas.

              83%

              • Unique Points
                • Texas authorities have arrested nearly 10,000 migrants who illegally crossed the U.S.-Mexico border under a new "arrest and jail" operation aimed at deterring illegal immigration.
                • Following the successful arrests, Texas passed a new law that will bolster the smaller-scale operation to expand the authority to make arrests, as well as give local judges the authority to order the migrants out of the country. The changes go into effect in March.
                • The initiative allows border landowners to enter agreements with the state authorizing trespassing arrests, clearing the way for law enforcement to apprehend migrants who enter the U.S. through those properties.
                • Republican Gov. Greg Abbott had predicted the trespassing arrests would produce swift results. "When people start learning about this, they’re going to stop coming across the Texas border," Abbott told Fox News in July 2021.
                • The trespassing arrests are spearheaded by the Texas Department of Public Safety, which said the state's border operation has resulted in more than 37,000 total criminal arrests. Spokesperson Ericka Miller said those arrested included gang members, human traffickers, sex offenders and others.
                • The trespassing arrests have been a cornerstone of Abbott's nearly $10 billion border mission known as Operation Lone Star that has tested the federal government's authority over immigration. In addition, Abbott has sent an estimated 80,000 migrants on buses to Democrat-led cities, including New York, Chicago, and Washington, D.C.
                • The arrests have drawn legal challenges, including claims of due process violations. Civil rights organizations have also sued to stop the new law signed by Abbott from taking effect, calling it an unconstitutional overreach that encroaches on the U.S. government's immigration authority.
                • Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador said on Friday that his government was aware of a new migrant caravan and said it would step up efforts to contain immigration.
              • Accuracy
                No Contradictions at Time Of Publication
              • Deception (100%)
                None Found At Time Of Publication
              • Fallacies (100%)
                None Found At Time Of Publication
              • Bias (75%)
                The article contains examples of religious bias and monetary bias. The author uses language that depicts one side as extreme or unreasonable, which is an example of ideological bias. Additionally, the article mentions a new law signed by Abbott that expands the authority to make arrests and gives local judges the authority to order migrants out of the country, which could be seen as an attempt to restrict immigration based on political beliefs.
                • Migrants take part in a caravan toward the border with the United States in Tapachula, Chiapas State, Mexico, on Dec. 24. (STR/AFP via Getty Images)
                  • The state passed a new law that will bolster the smaller-scale operation to expand the authority to make arrests, as well as give local judges the authority to order the migrants out of the country.
                  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (50%)
                    Lawrence Richard has conflicts of interest on the topics of Texas, US-Mexico border, illegal immigration, Gov. Greg Abbott, Operation Lone Star, migrants, border landowners, trespassing arrests, human traffickers, and sex offenders.
                    • Lawrence Richard is a contributor to Fox News, which has been criticized for its coverage of immigration issues and its ties to the Republican Party.
                      • The article mentions border landowners, who may have financial interests in the border region and may be affected by immigration policies.
                        • The article mentions Gov. Greg Abbott, who is a Republican and has been criticized for his hardline stance on immigration.
                          • The article mentions human traffickers, who exploit vulnerable migrants for profit.
                            • The article mentions Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, who has a different political stance on immigration than Gov. Greg Abbott.
                              • The article mentions migrants, who are often vulnerable and exploited by human traffickers and sex offenders.
                                • The article mentions Operation Lone Star, which is a state-led effort to secure the US-Mexico border that has been criticized for its effectiveness and its impact on migrants.
                                  • The article mentions sex offenders, who may be more likely to commit crimes if they are released from jail or deported.
                                    • The article mentions Texas authorities, who may have political and financial ties to the Republican Party.
                                      • The article mentions trespassing arrests, which can be controversial and raise questions about civil liberties.
                                      • Author Conflicts Of Interest (50%)
                                        Lawrence Richard has conflicts of interest on the topics of Texas, US-Mexico border, illegal immigration, Gov. Greg Abbott, Operation Lone Star, migrants, border landowners, trespassing arrests, human traffickers, and Texas authorities.
                                        • Finally, Richard mentions that Texas authorities have arrested thousands at the US-Mexico border. This suggests a financial tie with the state of Texas and its law enforcement agencies.
                                          • He also mentions Gov. Greg Abbott, who is a Republican, and Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, who is a Democrat. This suggests a political affiliation with the Republican party and potentially a bias towards their policies on immigration.
                                            • He mentions migrants, border landowners, trespassing arrests, human traffickers, and sex offenders, all of whom are directly related to illegal immigration. This suggests a personal relationship with individuals or groups who have a vested interest in these topics.
                                              • Richard also mentions Operation Lone Star, which is a state-led effort to secure the US-Mexico border. This suggests a professional affiliation with the state of Texas and its law enforcement agencies.
                                                • Richard mentions that Texas has arrested thousands at the US-Mexico border as state expands powers to arrest migrants. This suggests a financial tie with the state of Texas and its law enforcement agencies.

                                                82%

                                                • Unique Points
                                                  • The Department of Justice is warning Gov. Greg Abbott that it will sue if Texas moves forward with legislation empowering state officials to remove people from the U.S. who they suspect of being in the country illegally.
                                                  • Abbott and other supporters of SB4 have argued the law will deter illegal border crossings.
                                                  • The trespassing arrests are spearheaded by the Texas Department of Public Safety, which said the state’s border operation has resulted in more than 37,000 total criminal arrests.
                                                • Accuracy
                                                  • Abbott has said he believes the law was crafted in a way that 'can and should be upheld in the courts on its own.' He has said the law is necessary to stem the record number of border crossings under the Biden administration and has accused President Joe Biden of failing to secure the border.
                                                  • The DOJ letter says the U.S. Constitution tasks the federal government with regulating immigration and controlling the international borders. The law 'therefore intrudes into a field that is occupied by the federal government and is preempted,'the letter says.
                                                • Deception (100%)
                                                  None Found At Time Of Publication
                                                • Fallacies (100%)
                                                  None Found At Time Of Publication
                                                • Bias (80%)
                                                  The author has a clear political bias towards the Republican party and their stance on immigration. The author uses language that dehumanizes immigrants and portrays them as a threat to national security. The author also quotes Abbott's statements without providing any context or counterarguments, which reinforces the author's own biased perspective.
                                                  • Abbott has cast the law as an invitation for the Supreme Court to revisit longstanding precedent leaving immigration enforcement solely to the federal government.
                                                    • The Mexican government, which would have to accept immigrants ordered removed by state officials, has also said it will not go along with the law and has threatened to take action to stop it.
                                                      • The new legislation, set to take effect in March, would allow any law enforcement officer in Texas to arrest migrants accused of unlawfully entering the state from Mexico and empower judges to order their removal.
                                                      • Site Conflicts Of Interest (50%)
                                                        The author has a conflict of interest with the Department of Justice (DOJ) as they are reporting on a new border security law in Texas that may be challenged by the DOJ. The author also has a personal relationship with Brian M. Boynton, who is mentioned in the article and could potentially influence their reporting.
                                                        • Brian M. Boynton, a former U.S. attorney for the Western District of Texas, has been critical of the new border security law.
                                                          • The Department of Justice (DOJ) threatened to sue Texas over a new border security law.
                                                          • Author Conflicts Of Interest (50%)
                                                            The author has multiple conflicts of interest on the topics of border security law and Operation Lone Star. The author is a member of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), which has been critical of Operation Lone Star and has filed lawsuits against the state of Texas over its immigration policies. Additionally, the author has previously written about the DOJ's involvement in immigration enforcement and has criticized the Trump administration for its immigration policies.
                                                            • The author is a member of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), which has been critical of Operation Lone Star and has filed lawsuits against the state of Texas over its immigration policies.