Supreme Court extends pause on Texas immigration enforcement law

Supreme Court Associate Justice Samuel Alito on Monday extended an order blocking enforcement of a Texas state law permitting state officials to arrest illegal aliens.

Alito initially paused enforcement on March 4 after the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals had determined the law could take effect. Alito's stay had been set to expire, though his Monday order extended it indefinitely.

"Upon further consideration of the application of counsel for the applicants, the response, and the reply filed thereto, it is ordered that the stay issued on March 4, 2024, is hereby extended pending further order of Justice Alito or of the Court," the court docket reads.

The law permits state law enforcement to arrest suspected illegal aliens and allows state judges to order deportations. U.S. District Judge David Ezra initially stayed the law in late February, after the Biden administration sued to stop it from taking effect.

Under GOP Gov. Greg Abbott, Texas has conducted an array of operations designed to unilaterally secure the border in the face of perceived federal apathy toward the unprecedented surge in illegal crossings.

Dubbed "Operation Lone Star," Texas's effort has led to multiple legal battles with Washington, including over the state's deployment of a concertina wire fence along the Mexican frontier and its use of a buoy barrier in the Rio Grande.

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