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LULAC PRAISES THE DECISION BY FEDERAL JUDGE BLOCKING TEXAS' SB4 AS UNCONSTITUTIONAL

Nation's Oldest and Largest Latino Civil Rights Organization Urges Elected Leaders to Get Down to Serious Business on Immigration Reform

February 29, 2024
For more information, contact David Cruz at (818) 689-9991
davidcruz@lulac.org

Washington, DC – LULAC welcomes the decisive action taken by Federal Judge David Ezra Thursday to halt the implementation of Senate Bill 4 (SB4). This egregious law, which would have granted Texas police the authority to arrest individuals suspected of crossing the Texas-Mexico border unlawfully, represents a grave threat to our nation's core values and constitutional principles.

"Governor Abbott and other right-wing politicians need to stop wasting millions of Texas taxpayer dollars and lying to Texans that they are actually stopping immigrants," says Domingo Garcia, LULAC National President. "They are complicit with human traffickers in shipping immigrants all over the US and not working on a bipartisan immigration plan to solve the humanitarian crisis on the border," he adds.

The injunction issued by Judge Ezra ensures that SB4 will not be enforced while legal proceedings continue. The federal government, along with LULAC and various immigration advocacy organizations, has rightly challenged this law. Judge Ezra's order underscores the potential harm that SB4 could inflict on the rights of individuals and the integrity of our nation's immigration system.

“Governor Abbott’s political game of Texas hold'em is phony and just another use of political scapegoating during election season. ¡Puro pedo! BS hot air from Austin,” says Garcia.

LULAC blames Governor Greg Abbott for supporting SB4 and leading Texas' misguided attempts to address immigration issues unilaterally. We strongly oppose SB4's draconian measures because these actions are not the solution. As Judge Ezra correctly points out, disagreement with federal immigration policy does not justify violating the Supremacy Clause.

"LULAC strongly urges our serious elected officials to get down to the important business of addressing immigration reform in the interest of our country and millions of immigrants contributing to its well-being," says Garcia. "Meanwhile, LULAC will not allow Texas Governor Greg Abbott and his supporters, or any other state, to prey on the defenseless asylum seekers ahead of the election and use them as political piñatas."

Today's decision by Judge Ezra is a victory for justice and human rights. LULAC remains committed to advocating for fair and humane immigration policies that uphold the dignity and rights of all individuals. These reforms must include the more than 11 million undocumented immigrants living lawfully in the United States, studying for a better future, working hard every day, and paying taxes.

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About LULAC

The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) is the nation's largest and oldest Hispanic civil rights volunteer-based organization that empowers Hispanic Americans and builds strong Latino communities. Headquartered in Washington, DC, with 1,000 councils around the United States and Puerto Rico, LULAC's programs, services, and advocacy address the most important issues for Latinos, meeting the critical needs of today and the future. For more information, visit https://lulac.org/