The governor of Texas, Republican Greg Abbott, signed a controversial law on Monday December 19 criminalizing illegal entry into this southern American state, which borders Mexico, a prerogative in principle reserved for federal authorities.
This declared supporter of Donald Trump, who accuses the administration of Democratic President Joe Biden of “deliberate inaction” in the face of illegal immigration, symbolically signed this law in Brownswille, in front of a section of the wall on the border with Mexico, flagship project of the former Republican president. The law “creates a criminal offense of illegally entering Texas from a foreign country,” and provides for up to twenty years in prison for repeat offenses, the governor said.
The text, supposed to come into force in March, also gives state authorities the power to arrest migrants and deport them to Mexico, a federal jurisdiction, which augurs legal action on its constitutionality .
The Mexican government reacted to the vote on this law on November 15 by “categorically rejecting any measure that empowers local or state authorities to arrest and return Mexican or foreign citizens to Mexico,” according to a statement from its ministry. Foreign Affairs.
Mr Trump, campaigning to retake the White House, and Mr Abbott accuse US President Joe Biden of turning a blind eye to illegal immigration at the southern border, mainly made up of nationals from Latin American countries who say flee poverty and violence.