AUSTIN, Texas (KXAN) – Protesters gathered at the Texas Capitol Saturday afternoon to voice opposition to Senate Bill 4, the controversial immigration law that is set to take effect after a federal court lifted a block on the measure.
The demonstration drew advocates who argued immigration enforcement should remain the responsibility of the federal government, not state and local law enforcement agencies.
“We saw what happened in Minneapolis when ice was kind of allowed to act with free rein, and we don’t want to see similar situations come up in Texas. So we want to fight back,” said Adam Kranz, Press liaison for the Party for Socialism & Liberation.
SB 4 creates new state crimes for illegal entry and illegal reentry, and allows state and local law enforcement officers to arrest people suspected of violating those provisions.
The law also requires state judges to expel people convicted of illegal entry.
“I think our worry is that Ice has already been expanded to a pretty significant degree in the state and has caused some pretty uncontrollable violence,” said Kranz.
Abbott celebrated the court decision in a post on ‘X’ Friday, saying:
“Texas received a major border security victory. SB 4 makes it a state crime to illegally enter Texas. Shortly after I filed a legal brief defending that law, a federal appeals court ruled to allow it to be enforced while the case continues. We will keep fighting in the courts, working with President Trump, and doing everything necessary to secure our border and protect Texans.”
KXAN spoke with a group of people who were visiting the Capitol on Saturday who also agreed with court’s decision.
“I think 100% any law enforcement should be able to to handle that situation and then obviously take it to the powers that need to be able to manage it to determine what needs to happen next. There is a legal process in order which I believe people should follow should they come here,” said Jessica Strickland.
In its Friday order, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit granted Texas’ request to pause a lower court injunction that had blocked key portions of SB 4. The decision means those provisions can now take effect while the legal challenge continues.
Those provisions include the state’s illegal reentry offense, authority for state magistrates to issue removal orders, criminal penalties for failing to comply with those orders and requirements governing cases involving people with pending federal immigration proceedings.
Those convicted under certain provisions of SB 4 could face criminal penalties, while individuals who fail to comply with a removal order could face felony charges punishable by up to 20 years in prison.
KXAN reached out to Governor Abbott’s office for further comment on the decision, we have not yet heard back.