Extensive Police Powers Of SB 4 Step On Way To Authoritarian Vision

Governor Greg Abbott signed SB 4 today. This bill allows Texas State Police (DPS) & local police to arrest people they suspect of having crossed the border undocumented.

​From the Texas Tribune: 

"Immigrant rights organizations, Democrats and former immigration judges said the SB 4 that makes illegally crossing the border a state crime is unconstitutional because immigration enforcement is a federal responsibility.

Federal courts, including the U.S. Supreme Court, have ruled that immigration laws can only be enforced by the federal government. But some Texas Republicans have said they hope the new law will push the issue back before a U.S. Supreme Court that is more conservative since three appointees of former President Donald Trump joined it."

I've read in multiple places that SB 4 won't survive court review. I don't what about today's right-wing courts inspires confidence the bill won't be allowed to stand. 

Houston Mayor-elect John Whitmire intends to ask for 200 DPS troops to police Houston.    

These politicized Texas state police that can turn a routine traffic stop into a deportation, will be the same ones enforcing Trump's anti-democratic decrees in Texas cities if he returns to the White House.  

People don't understand how quickly they can be defined as criminals by others with power & access to arrest powers and overwhelming force. It's not the migrants the right is gunning for in the end. It is our civil liberties they want in the service of an authoritarian vision.

Immigration is an important issue. It does not negate discussion of the issue to say the enhanced police powers extended police powers granted by SB 4, can easily be imagined being applied to all Texans in an authoritarian future that each day takes greater form.

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