Mexico asks U.S. court to rule against Texas immigration enforcement law

The Mexican government on Thursday asked the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals to strike down a Texas law permitting state officials to arrest and deport illegal aliens.

Texas GOP Gov. Greg Abbott signed the law in December, though the legislation has faced a challenge from the federal government, resulting in judicial stays on enforcement. The Supreme Court halted one stay earlier this month, without ruling on the merits. The 5th Circuit, which is handling the case, has since reimposed its own stay, CNN reported.

In a brief filed Thursday with the court, the Mexican government expressed fears that Mexican nationals and Hispanic residents would be the subject of unfair treatment by state officials under the law.

"Mexico is deeply concerned that SB4 will be applied in a discriminatory manner and fears that its enforcement will lead to improper harassment, detention, removal, and criminalization of Mexican citizens and individuals of Latino appearance," the filing stated, according to the Washington Times. 

State officials expect that the law would result in roughly 80,000 arrests per year. The measure was passed as part of Austin's unilateral efforts to secure the border in the face of perceived federal apathy toward the unprecedented surge in illegal border crossings.

Collectively dubbed "Operation Lone Star," the state's efforts have included the deployment of a concertina-wire fence along the border and a buoy barrier in the Rio Grande, both of which have led to separate legal disputes with Washington.

Ben Whedon is an editor and reporter for Just the News. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter.