Mexico will challenge a new law in Texas that allows police to arrest migrants who have entered the Lone Star state between official ports of entry, President López Obrador said Tuesday.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott on Monday signed into law what his government called “a transformative package of border security legislation.”
One law, known as Senate Bill 4 (SB 4) “creates a criminal offense for illegal entry into this state from a foreign nation,” according to a Texas government statement.
The law, which is scheduled to take effect in March, gives police the power to arrest people who have entered Texas illegally from Mexico, or those suspected of doing so, and grants local judges the authority to order undocumented migrants to leave the United States.
“The law cracks down on repeated attempts to enter Texas by creating the offense of illegal reentry and penalizes offenders with up to 20 years in prison,” the Texas government said.
“It also provides the mechanism to order an offender to return to the foreign nation from which the person entered or attempted to enter this state.”
The Associated Press reported that opponents of the Texas government “have called the measure the most dramatic attempt by a state to police immigration since a 2010 Arizona law — denounced by critics as the “Show Me Your Papers” bill — that was largely struck down by the U.S. Supreme Court.”
Migrants who enter the United States illegally can already be charged with illegal entry or re-entry under federal laws, Reuters reported, but Abbott “has criticized what he calls U.S. President Joe Biden’s failure to enforce them.”
López Obrador told reporters at his morning news conference that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is “already working on the process” to challenge SB 4.
“I would like to say to our compatriots [in Texas] and to [other] migrants that we’ll be defending you,” he said before asserting that Abbott’s actions are motivated by a desire to be on the U.S. Republican Party’s 2024 presidential ticket as a candidate for vice president.
“With these measures, he wants to gain popularity [but] he’s not going to gain anything. On the contrary, he’s going to lose support because there are a lot of Mexicans in Texas, a lot of migrants,” López Obrador said.
Abbott has “forgotten” that Texas used to be part of Mexico, “that there are 40 million Mexicans in the United States” and that “that great nation was strengthened thanks to the migrants of the world,” he added.
“And he forgets that it says in the Bible that we mustn’t mistreat strangers … and a lot of these leaders [including the Texas governor] are religious and probably go to church,” López Obrador said.
The new law is “inhumane” and “politically motivated,” he said, adding that Abbott is a “man with a malicious nature” or, in simpler terms, a “malo de Malolandia,” or a “baddie from Badland.”
“… We’re going to intervene because … [detaining and deporting migrants] are United States federal government powers, not powers of states,” López Obrador said.
“[Abbott] is usurping powers … that correspond to the [U.S.] Congress and the United States president,” he said.
López Obrador has previously accused the Texas governor of “not acting responsibly” and “trying to get a political advantage” by carrying out strict inspections of trucks entering the Lone Star state and installing anti-migrant floating barriers in the Rio Grande.
He has urged Mexican-Americans to not vote for Abbott or Florida Governor and presidential hopeful Ron DeSantis, who has pledged to make immediate use of the United States military to combat Mexican cartels in Mexico if he becomes U.S. president.
The Mexican government expressed its opposition to a new immigration law in Florida in July.
I do not understand all the controversy. I am a United States citizen. When I visit Mexico, I fill out all the appropriate applications and documents. I have my passport and I enter via all the legal channels. If I were to engage in any illegal activity I would expect to to arrested and/or deported. What am I missing? Where is the inhumanity?
*expect to be
What is wrong is that it’s a federal problem. I do not want my tax money to be spent on this sham. Quit messing around and give teachers and schools the money they need.
. . . in other news, “The United States of America to challenge ‘inhumane’ Mexican immigration law . . . ” all that paperwork: economic solvency proof, Passports and various visas, Menaje de Casa ( with copies and notarized by the US Consulate ), proof of immunizations, photo ids including Passport, Drivers License, utility bills showing proof of residency . . . and of course all in original, with copies . . . plus payment via bank debit card or credit cards . . . this will be fun . . . : S
Why aren’t you giving abre cap of the week at the mañaneras anymore?
Maybe I should start crossing where the migrates are crossing as it’s faster than doing it legally at the border crossings at San Ysidro. Oh the only problem is I would have to pay the cartels who are making all the money. I can’t believe both Mexico and the US continues to allow this. Remove the cartel and this migration could really stop or slow down.
Amen. I remember when I could walk across the border in Jacumba when I had family up there sin problema and that was after a huge bust in international news at the so-called airport in Jacumba.
in other news . . . an organized crime gang has begun armed robberies of “gringos” driving out of the Colombia Bridge crossing . . . they are “alleged” to demand $800usd, OR if they search the vehicle and find more the response from them will be worse . . .
” . . . PLEASE AVOID CROSSING AT COLUMBIA.
This post is another couple who just got robbed Crossing into Mex at the Columbia Crossing
They tried in October to make us pull over but I would not stop for them
This just happened and they tried to get us last month . . . ”
” . . . FROM THE CIVIL LIST
I just wanted to share that we were robbed yesterday coming in from Laredo. We had gone through the Columbia Bridge to avoid the rough area of Laredo. We were about 4 miles from the main road when a car flew past us and stopped about 1000 meters ahead on the left. There was another car with a guy in the middle of the street on the right. There was nowhere for us to turn or go. The guy on the left blocked the road and they guided us to the side and a 3rd car showed up (about 6 guys).
The main guy was very polite and informed us we weren’t being robbed but we had to pay the “cuota” for the road. There was no cell phone signal at this stop, although I wouldn’t have called anyone anyway. The guys were using very high-tech radios to talk with someone else who determined we had to pay them $800US to go. The guy had my husband out of the car and told him that everything would be okay as long as we paid. If we claimed we didn’t have the full money and they searched us and found money it would get very ugly. Of course, we paid.
The guy then videotaped my husband telling him to say that we were treated with respect and paid the $600 fee. Even among thieves, there is no honor. He told my husband he would send the video to their people and we would not be bothered again through the end of Monterrey.
We had no money. We went to an Oxxo and asked where we could find an ATM. They said there were none anywhere around. They offered to let us withdraw 1500 pesos but for some reason it wouldn’t work. We explained to the owner what happened. They started telling us the only ATM’s were near the border. I must have looked terrified and was saying, no way. The owner said I will take you both in my car. It will be safer. Other customers told us to go with him, that we would be safe. On the way to and back from the border I saw another spotter on the road, with another SUV like what grabbed us.
We made it roundtrip with cash. My husband gave the guy a huge tip which he tried to refuse. He was a true saint and savior. Everyone is telling us we are lucky they only took 800US.
We will drive through Brownsville when we return in June with the car and then never again. We will only fly.
I have probably crossed this border 50 times in my 25+ years. Each year it gets worse. We had a close call 2 years ago and this time we were not lucky. We won’t try for a third. They were very nice and polite but I couldn’t help but wonder if it would end with a bullet in both of our heads.
Please don’t think because others have made it many times, this somehow ensures your safety. ”
I often wonder what would the folks at VisitMexico say to these actions on their side of the border . . .???
and another example of hospitality within the Nuevo Laredo border area – specifically Colombia Bridge border crossing heading south . . . Hello VisitMexico . . .
” . . . We just crossed at Colombia on the 19th and was chased by a car for like 5 mins going almost 90mph. Luckily my husband is Mexican and he knew not to stop for anything. The car was a small sports car with red and blue flashing lights under the car front end (not police or government type of car or even have any identifications of a police car) Then right before the 85D road, there was a police stop and we got flagged over. The police told my husband that we didn’t pay enough taxes and they were going to take all of our gifts for our family and personal stuff. My husband convinced them to take $80 in pesos and dollars, they let us go. We drove so fast to get into Nuevo Leon. No issues from there to Monterrey . . . “