Legal Battle on Texas Border Explained
Legal Battle on Texas Border Explained
After a few days of judicial whiplash, the Texas border law (SB 4) remains in limbo and is not being enforced. Will any part of this law ever get to be enforced? Thousands of people try to cross the border illegally every day (an average of nearly 9,000 daily in December and 4,000 in January). While legal battles continue, Texas remains hamstrung in responding to the thousands entering their state.
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What is Texas SB4?
This law, passed by the Texas legislature and signed by the governor, was supposed to go into effect March 5, 2024. The law allows Texas law enforcement to apprehend people illegally crossing the border from Mexico. Then the apprehended are either prosecuted or deported. NBCDFW has a sums up what the law can and can’t do succinctly:
The law would allow any Texas law enforcement officer to arrest people suspected of entering the country illegally. Once in custody, migrants could either agree to a Texas judge’s order to leave the U.S. or be prosecuted on misdemeanor charges of illegal entry. Migrants who don’t leave could face arrest again under more serious felony charges.
Arresting officers must have probable cause, which could include witnessing the illegal entry or seeing it on video.
The law cannot be enforced against people lawfully present in the U.S., including those who were granted asylum or who are enrolled in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. …
The following is a timeline of the events leading up to where we are now:
- The law was signed by Governor Greg Abbott on December 18, 2023.
- The Biden Administration sued Texas in January, 2024, to stop this law from taking effect, leading to a federal judge blocking the law.
- Texas appealed the ruling, and the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that police could start enforcing SB4 on March 9.
- The Biden Administration sought an emergency ruling from the Supreme Court. Justice Samuel Alito put the law on pause while the court deliberated.
- The Supreme Court of the United States ruled on the afternoon of March 19 that the law could take effect while the legal process of the lawsuit continues. They did not rule on the constitutionality of the law, instead tossing the decision back to the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals.
- The three justices in the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals set an initial hearing for the morning of March 20. However, after 11 p.m. on March 19, two of the justices decided to once again pause the enforcement of SB4. All in all, SB4 was only enforceable for a few hours.
If this law eventually makes it through, it will become one of the most stringent immigration laws in the nation. The Biden administration remains staunchly opposed to the law, arguing that border control falls under the federal government, not states. In a statement released Tuesday, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said, unironically, that the law “will not only make communities in Texas less safe, it will also burden law enforcement, and sow chaos and confusion at our southern border.” Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, on the other hand, has argued that Texas is well within its rights to protect its border, stating that “states generally enjoy wide latitude to regulate alien misconduct and prosecute crimes involving illegal entry.”
IFA Content Creators recently met to pray and seek God. We all sensed the importance of calling out evil and using biblical terms to do so. The Bible has a word for allowing 4,000-9,000 people illegally enter the U.S. every day: “lawlessness.” Please join us in praying against this lawlessness and praying for a growing number of Americans to “receive the love of the truth.”
For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work . . . The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved (2 Thessalonians 2:7–10).
Share your prayers over this crucial legal battle in the comments below.
(Photo Credit: CBP photo by Jerry Glaser)
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Comments
I stand with Texas in defending it’s borders. Boundaries are set in place for a purpose. The Biden administration is purposely allowing this to happen for larger vote counts and it will eventually catch up to them. God will put in end to this once and for all. The scales of justice on earth are of balance but the scales of heaven are balanced and God will see to it that this matter gets addressed. Praise be to God who is sitting on throne. Let’s not give in to lawlessness and keep moving forward for justice in fairness to the immigrants coming in and the U.S. I say this because life is not going to be any better for the immigrants on this side of the border.
Father God, I did not know that SB4 has been stalled in the courts of unrighteous judges. Please protect us from this invasion of illegal aliens- young men of military age and bearing that the Deep State has invited into our country to destroy us. THANK YOU that You will not permit this! We pray and intercede for our country, and may Gov. Abbott govern righteously to protect Texas and the USA. In Jesus name I pray! Amen
To Whom it may concern:
As Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said: Texas is well within its rights to protect its border.
The lawlessness has to stop someplace and we are going to stop it here, he is the Lawless One according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved (2 Thessalonians 2:7–10).
Texas Resident.
Frank.
As a natural born citizen of the United States (1945) in Houston, Texas, our Texas constitution allows us to protect our borders. Lt. Col. Allen West ran for Governor of Texas and received my vote. Col. Allen West read the Texas Constitution and pointed out that we have the right to protect our borders (only after he challenged Greg Abbott did Greg Abbot decide to do something about the border). Greg Abbott has taken 1.5 million in campaign contributions from the people who established Colony Ridge here right outside of Houston for 200,000 illegals. They have been selling plots of land in Mexico, Central, and South America for at least 10 years. What is the answer to this? Please check this out yourselves and thank you for praying for Texas.
Father God, by your word the curse may not come without a cause. For many long years the meanings of words have been altered from absolute to vague, meaningless, yet with mighty consequences. Like the Titanic that slid down the builders ways in 62 seconds it is, due time that the feet of those who have stolen the good sense of laws and justice slide into oblivion, swallowed by the chaos they have planted for others and now themselves. Destroy their name and reputation openly Lord God Almighty that they become a sign of warning,. Like Titanic, names remembered forever as great folly. May this lesson be learned for time for all to see their repentance in the face of their disaster. Amen
Dear Heavenly Father,
PLEASE MAKE TEXAS IT’S OWN COUNTRY AGAIN!
Amen!
Heavenly father. We implore you Lord to raise your heavenly fist and your angel armies against the lawlessness that is taking place along our southern border, primarily in Texas where we have passed a law. Lord Jesus, I ask that it would be upheld and the illegal immigrants would be sent back peacefully but immediately. So Lord God we know you do not like lawlessness and it is contrary to your very being and so we believe this will come to an end soon in the mighty name of Jesus. Amen!
Why does the current federal administration prefer to cater to the people entering the country illegally rather than protecting the people who were born here or who came here through legal methods? Why does it support illegal activity of ANY kind?
I am praying for Texas law to prevail. Righteousness to accomplish victory. I have a number of loved ones in TEXAS.
Texas must keep doing what they are doing, in spite of this law, because they need to defend themselves.
Yes, I rebuke all the evil lawlessness that’s occurring at our borders right now in the mighty victorious Name of Jesus! Today a mob assaulted our border protection system here in El Paso, Texas and violently broke into the state and our country. The National Guard did not have enough people in their group to handle it. May our governor quickly remedy this in Jesus’s Name. Father we repent of the sins of our states and country in Jesus’s Name. May we soon return to the country you created and that we know and love. May we be committed to daily prayer and action. Thank you victorious Lord!!
Governor Abbots word’s only have effect when backed up and supported by a moral and religious administration in the government.. the same as our constitution only works when supported by a moral and religious people
Governor Abbott has absolutely NO support from Biden and his entire heathen administration, from the top down!
Father, please take the blinders of Satan off people’s eyes so they will be open to hear and receive your truth. Continue to send bold laborers across their paths to tell them your truth. Thank you Father; I ask this in Jesus’ name, Amen.
The message that I keep getting is from Deuteronomy 28:43-44 Interlinear Bible. This is a curse because if our disobedience as a country.
43. The alien in your midst shall go above you, higher and higher; and you shall come down lower and lower.
44. He shall lend to you, and you shall not lend to him. He shall be the head and you shall be the tail.
I pray God you softed the hearts of Americans and allow them to be reminded these migrants are YOUR CHILDREN TOO !
MIGRANTS DESERVE RESPECT & HUMANITY, as Christ commands of us TO LOVE ONE ANOTHER!
Yes, the migrants deserve respect and humanity which is why our borders need to be protected to prevent them from being abused by the Cartels. There are legal ways to enter this country which many including my family and fellow church members have followed. Why should these people have so little respect for our laws?
God created borders and states as well as warned against moving border stones. He’s also against human trafficking, sex trafficking, rape, murder, drug smuggling and child molestation – all of which is now happening BECAUSE of the open borders. May the Lord open your eyes and ears to the truth.
Be sure to support your position with properly founded information.. and read what Ela commented in response to you below
I prayed for the state legislation SB4 to prevail in the District Court of Appeal and for law and order to be restored in our great country.
I am praying against the lawlessness in Texas and our country as a whole. I am calling us back to the covenant that was made in the beginning of our nation. I am asking God to deal with the government that has created chaos on our borders and communities.
The action by the executive branch honestly makes me cry. I weep for our nation that appears to being held captive by a government whose intent is to bring harm. There is no honest reason I can think of to oppose the State of Texas from protecting their border and keeping those who have entered this nation illegally from coming in.
As John Adams said, “Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.”
May God restore our government to be led by a moral and religious people once again.
I just posted a brief version of what you have said.. and what you have said is really the only recourse we have in a solution. Unless God miraculously intervenes through our prayers to have a wholesale conviction on the hearts and minds of those that are currently crushing us with their totalitarian regime
Father we decree this nation will be saved. We ask that the State of Texas will prevail in stopping the invasion of their state and our nation. May Texas have favor in the courts for their law to achieve it. May other states follow with similar laws. In our precious Savior’s name Amen! 🙏
American residents and taxpayers cannot afford to house undocumented, unvetted illegal aliens. God needs to deal with the heathen president and his entire cabinet. Governor Abbott and the state of Texas must prevail. It is also difficult to deal with an incompetent Supreme Court and Biden’s nominee who feels it is OK to regulate (censor) free speech in contravention of the First Amendment. Where did these judges go to law school? Their “wallpaper” is worthless!
Father God, we pray for the rightful application of the Constitution and that states rights assume priority over their borders. This is what makes us a Republic. It’s the Republic that this federal administration is seeking to utterly discredit and destroy. Lord, remove judges who have an anti-Republic agenda. Amen
We “pray the peace of Jerusalem; they will prosper who love You” Psalm 122:6 over the nations starting with the United States of America and our border’s in Jesus name, amen
I believe God has Turned His face away from this corrupt country. Demoncrats in 2012 denounced Him from the platform at their convention. Children are being used for perverse purposes. The church has gone woke. Opening prayers in government are not allowed to pray in the name of the Father or use Jesus’s name. Fear men or God. Most have chose to fear man. Until a change occurs in these matters, there is no hope for this country. Pray for the children and their protection from evil.
Nothing is impossible for God. Things may appear as there no hope…we are to have hope in our God. Words are powerful. God spoke the world into existence with His words. He is not finished as this is His nation and those who believe are pray for His intervention. Appeal to heaven for The healing of our land through revival and an awakening of the people to their salvation. Believe and trust in the Lord. Hop on board! 🙏
This border crisis is a manifestation of Satan’s work “for he knows that his time is short” [Rev. 12:12].
Lord God I pray for the governor of Texas, as he stands for righteousness concerning the border. This is lawlessness for 4 to 9,000 illegal immigrants to cross daily. Open the eyes of our blinded government, in Jesus name. Thank You Lord.
Governor Abbott is a member of the WEF. Pray for his courage to leave it. Until then all his words are are for show. Im in Texas, the border is open in many places. Many independent videos show this.
Yes, the lord loves us.. and our Founders did make a covenant with him.. and in the first 50 years of our country ..we did Prosper above all other nations.. but now we have turned our back on him collectively and have broken that Covenant long long ago intermittently through a series of egregious sins against him.. and now we are reaping that crop.. that Harvest of Tears.. and yes God has a history of responding to his children’s cries for help after they have sinned greatly and for a long time and wounded his heart.. and wounded ourselves in the process.. but.. all of these things need to be considered in perspective and in balance.. in the Old Testament God did stop Israel’s enemies.. but usually after they had suffered the results of their own disobedience. I am not wishing that on anyone.. but it is biblical precedence. And not only that.. 50% of the church is still coming out of the delusion of apathy as though we are not supposed to be involved in the Civic processes of the administration of government in our country.. which is more foolishness and sin actually.. which also hamstrings are efforts. Lord God and Jesus name it may be a simple prayer but I just pray that you would cause Christians that live in apathy and denial to face the truth and see themselves in the mirror and understand and realize and accept the sacrifice our Founders made and live in that awareness.. that Christianity is so much more than just presenting the basic gospel to people.
I have read this before..that Abbot in turned various ways by whoever is currently wielding the most influence. That demonic membership in wef wields powerful control… so the prayer needs to be Lord in Jesus name I pray that you would move on to Governor Abbot to be convicted to confess that evil affiliation and to repent from that connection to the world economic forum.
Lord Jesus, You are very aware of the crisis at the Texas border. By Your grace and mercy, I ask that you move in a way that will benefit our nation. We cannot afford to continue to allow these illegal aliens into our nation, plain and simple. Please, make a way for the Texas Governor to make laws that are enforcable, and that will remedy this out of control mess. Thank you, Jesus.
Immensely helpful! Thank you IFA staff.
Father, You are peace and order, not chaos, calamity and lawlessness. I ask You to aid law enforcement along the Texas border. Grant wisdom and supernatural “intelligence information” to them. Lord, order must prevail. Therefore, I ask You to shift the 5th Circuit Court Justices to do what is right and good and just. Turn their necks; change their minds and hearts. Amen.
Heavenly Father, I come into agreement with my brothers and sisters concerning all the government issues that affects us all as followers of Christ. I pray your perfect will be done as you have it written in the Bible. I pray for wisdom, knowledge and understanding for the times ahead of us. May you keep us from harm and guide us as we are your boots on the ground in this earth. I pray in your son Jesus precious name,
Selah- so be it.
We don’t understand how the court of appeals can override the supreme court,can someone explain this?
The current conglomeration that calls itself our “federal government” is made up of fools with depraved minds as described in Romans 1. They are being used by satan to destroy our representative republic and replace Godly values with demonic values.
I thanks God for Governor Abbott and the Texas legislature.
We must support them by prayer. This is spiritual warfare on a grand scale!
Dig in warriors of God! God can and will win this battle as we join forces with Him!!
Yes!
Pray that the Government gets saved and enforces the Constitution!!!! Puts the laws that are in place. Enforce them!!! FATHER GOD, THANKYOU THAT YOU LOVE OUR COUNTRY. WAKE UP AMERICA TO RETURN TO HER GODLY HERITAGE AND PRAISE YOU THAT THIS COUNTRY WAS FOUNDED ON YOUR COVENANT . PRESIDENT WASHINGTON PUT AMERICA IN YOUR CAPABLE HANDS. WE HUMBLE OURSEVES BEFORE YOU AND RETURN TO YOUR HANDS . DELIVER THIS COUNTRY FROM EVIL, EVIL MEN, ALL THAT IS DEMONIC. ALL CURSES AND WITCHCRAFT. WE PLEAD THE BLOOD OF JESUS. WE SPEAK THE NAME OF JESUS AND COMMAND SATAN TO BOW HIS KNEE. WE BREAK ALL SOUL TIES. WE HONOR YOU, PRAISE YOU AND THANKYOU FOR ESTABLISHING AMERICA BACK ON HER GODLY HERITAGE. WE TAKE AUTHORITY OVER ALL DEMONIC SPIRITS THAT CALL FOR THE DESTRUCTION OF AMERICA. AMERICA IS BEING SAVED NOW!!! OUR CHILDREN ARE BEING DELIVERED FROM ALL HELL’S CONFUSION WASHED IN THE BLOOD!!! AMEN PRAISE GOD!!! IN JESUS NAME!!!
Very briefly, over past years or so, perhaps since FDR, the Supreme Court which per Davud Barton, being unelected was designed to be the least powerful of all three branches of Federal government. Eg believe in Scotus Dred-Scott ruling legalizing slavery, Lincoln basically told the court to taks a hike and ignored them.
But apparently unable to gain power via legitimate elected office in the other two branches, radical leftists apparently gradually managed to make the unelected Supreme Court the most powerful branch of Federal government while also shifting the balance of power from citizens at local and state level to power concentrated at remote, Federal level. Our Founders warned about that as would lead to eventual tyranny as the people turned more and more from self&government under God. that constantly overthrows the Constitution and the will of the people and traditional American values to progressively (double meaning intended) undermine our very nation.
So not sure, but technically, I suspect states might have the right like Lincoln to just ignore Scotus rulings. But practically that might have serious consequences not to do lightly. And not Constitutional lawyer, but suspect, the best way may be to use the same way we got in tgis mess by peacefully backtracking the legal processes that undermined our Constitution which would hopefully establish legal precedents making it very hard for leftists and globalists to undermine our Constitutuon again. But time is critical. Not only are drug cartels and human trafficking crossing in unprecedented numbers.
But just realizing that with the elections coming up, and the very likely landslide election of Donald Trump likelt to oust our very corrupt and likely CCCP controlled President, with millions and millions of illegal aliens invading who Democrats will no doubt seek to register to vote, OUR ELECTIONS IN NOVEMBER ARE ONCE AGAIN IN DANGER OF BEING STOLEN AGAIN. SO ITS ESSENTIAL TO PRAY FOR GOD’S INTERVENTION AND TO GIVE WISDOM TO TEXAS AND OTHER OFFICIALS.
Absolutely!
But..how do we- they..back up those laws and decisions,that keep getting ignored..(?) (?) they have to be backed up.. the laws have to be backed up with human action.
Pray Angel’s enforce the closing of the border. NO PEOPLE ALLOWED TO CROSS BORDER ANYWARE IN THE UNITED STATES!!!!! PRAY PEOPLE ARE NOT AIRLIFTED AT NIGHT AND DELIVERED INTO OUR COUNTRY. PRAY FOR BIDEN’S REMOVEAL FROM OFFICE. RIGHTEOUSNESS, LAW,ORDER. PEACE. CRIMINALS REMOVED FROM OUR COUNTRY. SECRETCELLS DISCOVERED AND REMOVED. AMERICA HUMBLE THEMSELVES BEFORE GOD. REVIVAL AWAKING EVENGELISM AT THE BORDER.SOULS SAVED SEE OURSEVES AS THE Father sees us. Plead the Blood over our kids.
.
Ultimately doesn’t matter. The original a constitution of the united States of America allows borders to be enforced by the States,
if the federal government fails to enforce the border. We currently have no federal government; we have a group of corporations that calls itself the federal government. WE ARE living in the midst of high treason, and we will be exercising our power to determine our rightful choice of government. It is our individual responsibility to restore constitutional government and bring all the corporate traitors to their justful end.
, – however and unfortunately and I hate to say this.. but we live in a nation of people that have become so comfortable and living so much fear and are so weak that they cannot enforce the laws that God gave them to enforce.. and speaking as a christian.. how often are we exhorted by Church leadership and buy all of our conservative prayer platforms.. that we have to be the conduit through which action is taken.. it is not just prayer.. it is taking action.. and as it has been stated in this thread yes.. states rights must be enforced and states must protect themselves in spite of what the federal government says.. that federal government which has become just a group of Corporations that are controlled by globalists and who have a police force of cartels at the border.. the states must stand against these evils.. which would be biblical.. and constitutional.. biblical, hyphen and constitutional
Father, We ask Your mercy upon our leaders who embrace open borders for political gain and the destruction of our country. May You change their hearts and minds to submit to only You Lord Jesus. Amen
Let us pray for the Judges of our land that they will rule righteously, cease to appease the lawless Biden administration, uphold our constitutional right to protect our borders, and end the horrible chaos at the Texas border! Pray for Governor Greg Abbott that he will stand firm in his brave fight to make Texas safe from illegal immigrants
Oh God who sits in the Heavens, hear our prayers! Forgive us a believers, expose any secret sins that we would be faultless before you! That the wall of prayer would be effective against the dark lawlessness that has emboldened evil in the world!
You give us the mind of Christ, to be uncompromising in our prayers and actions! Fight for the righteous and in behalf of our forefathers!