Judge Blocks Texas Law Allowing State-Led Deportations

U.S. District Judge David A. Ezra issued a preliminary injunction on May 14, 2026, blocking key portions of Texas Senate Bill 4. The ruling halts provisions that would have allowed state police to arrest individuals for illegal reentry and empowered state judges to issue deportation orders. Judge Ezra declared these components patently unconstitutional, asserting that immigration enforcement is the sole authority of the federal government.

The legal challenge was filed on May 4 by the American Civil Liberties Union, the ACLU of Texas, and the Texas Civil Rights Project on behalf of two Honduran immigrants. During hearings in Austin, Judge Ezra described the state's attempt to criminalize illegal re-entry as a shame and noted that the state of Texas is not its own country.

While the illegal reentry and judicial deportation sections are blocked, the illegal entry provision for first-time offenses remains unchallenged and took effect on May 15. The Government of Texas is expected to appeal the decision. The Trump administration had previously signaled its intent to file a brief in support of the state law, while the Texas Department of Public Safety argued against the injunction by claiming there was no imminent enforcement of the law.