Overview
- A federal judge issued a preliminary injunction that blocks central pieces of SB4, leaving only the new state crime for illegal border entry in effect for now.
- The order stops state judges from issuing expulsion orders and pauses related penalties, including the new reentry offense and charges for ignoring removal orders.
- The court said those sections invade federal control of immigration and conflict with national rules that decide who can be removed and when.
- The ruling followed an appeals court move in late April that had lifted earlier holds on the law, which Texas officials praised as immigrant-rights groups pressed new challenges.
- For migrants and border communities, police can still arrest on suspected recent illegal entry, and advocates warn of more stops during traffic encounters as they urge people to keep records and get legal help.