US supreme court says Texas can arrest, jail migrants

BBC | The Supreme Court has ruled that Texas can arrest and jail migrants, as part of the state's new tough immigration law.

The law, SB4, will allow local and state police to arrest and prosecute those suspected of illegally crossing the Mexican border.

The Biden administration has called the law unconstitutional,

The decision comes a day after it was blocked by the same court while emergency appeals played out.

In total, SB4 was delayed three times by Justice Samuel Alito.

Then on Tuesday the Supreme Court ruled that SB4 can take effect, while the lower federal appeals court weighs its legality.

The court's three liberal judges - Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan and Ketanji Brown Jackson - dissented.

"The court gives a green-light that will upend the longstanding federal-state balance of power and sow chaos," Ms Sotomayor wrote in the dissenting opinion.

SB4 gives local and state police officers the ability to stop and arrest anyone suspected of having crossed the border illegally, except in schools, healthcare facilities and places of worship.

Punishments would range from misdemeanours to felonies and potential imprisonment, or fines of up to $2,000 (£1,570).

Penalties for those who illegally re-enter Texas after having been deported could go up to 20 years in prison, depending on a person's immigration and criminal history.

SB4 was signed into law in December and was initially due to come into effect on 5 March.