AUSTIN, Texas — Civil rights organizations filed a new lawsuit on Monday seeking to block provisions of a Texas law that would allow state authorities to arrest and deport individuals suspected of entering the United States without authorization.
The legal challenge targets Texas Senate Bill 4, which is scheduled to take effect on May 15, 2026, after a federal appeals court lifted a previous injunction that had paused enforcement.
The lawsuit was filed by the Texas Civil Rights Project, the American Civil Liberties Union of Texas, and the American Civil Liberties Union. The groups asked a federal court to block sections of the law that establish state-level immigration offenses and authorize state magistrates to issue deportation orders.
SB 4 creates a state crime for illegal reentry into the United States and allows Texas magistrates to order removal of individuals convicted under the law. It also requires continued prosecution in cases involving pending federal immigration proceedings.
The lawsuit argues that federal law exclusively governs immigration enforcement and that the Texas statute conflicts with federal authority. The groups said the challenged provisions exceed state authority under the U.S. Constitution.
Ken Paxton’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The Texas Legislature passed SB 4 in 2023 in response to increased border crossings. State officials supported the law as part of efforts to address unauthorized immigration.
The Biden administration initially joined legal challenges against the law in 2024. The federal government later withdrew from the case after the change in administration.
A federal appeals court recently ruled that plaintiffs lacked standing and lifted the injunction that had blocked the law, allowing it to take effect unless another court issues a new order.
