Texas – “Texas received a major border security victory,” said Governor Greg Abbott after the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit ruled that Texas Senate Bill 4 (SB 4) may be enforced while legal proceedings continue.
The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit granted a motion to stay a lower court injunction that had previously blocked enforcement of the law, allowing the statute to take effect during the ongoing appeal.
SB 4 makes it a state crime to illegally enter Texas and authorizes state law enforcement to arrest and prosecute individuals suspected of unlawful entry. The law has been the subject of ongoing legal challenges in federal court.
Abbott praised the ruling, describing it as a win for border security efforts and stating that Texas will continue defending the law in court. He also reiterated the state’s commitment to strengthening enforcement measures and working alongside federal partners on immigration-related issues.
The court’s decision means enforcement of SB 4 may proceed while the underlying case continues through the judicial system. The legal challenge to the law remains active, and further rulings are expected as litigation moves forward.
