Texas Attorney General Tells Newsmax: States Have the Right to Self-Defense

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton shared with Newsmax on Thursday the straightforward argument his state has regarding the arrest and removal of migrants who cross the border illegally.

Paxton appeared on “The National Report” to discuss the next steps following the U.S. Supreme Court’s temporary block of a federal judge’s ruling that would have allowed Texas’ SB4 measure to take effect. SB4 grants Texas the authority to arrest, prosecute, and remove migrants who illegally cross the border from Mexico.

The Justice Department submitted a petition to the Supreme Court on Monday, and Justice Samuel Alito issued the temporary block, which is scheduled to end on March 13.

“We will once again be presenting the actual case merits at the trial court level, asserting a simple argument that the federal government is failing to enforce federal law and essentially encouraging cartels to bring in as many people as possible. States have the right to protect their citizens from the resulting harm,” Paxton stated on Thursday.

“There is a significant amount of harm occurring, not only financially but also in terms of crime, potential terrorism, drug issues, and children dying from fentanyl.”

Under SB4, it would be a state crime to enter Texas illegally, potentially leading to prison sentences of up to 20 years for illegal migrants who refuse to depart the country.

“In my view, no state, including Texas, would have joined the union if the agreement was that the federal government would pass a law for protection but fail to enforce it, leaving states unable to protect themselves,” Paxton added. “No state would have agreed to that scenario.”

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