In a turn of events, an appeals court has blocked a controversial Texas immigration law just hours after the Supreme Court had given the green light for it to take effect. The law, known as Senate Bill 4 (SB 4), aimed to allow for the arrest of illegal border crossers. However, a federal appeals panel decided to halt the implementation of the law without providing an explanation.

The Supreme Court had initially lifted a hold on SB 4 on Tuesday, stating that it needed to be reviewed by the lower 5th Circuit Court of Appeals before a final decision could be made. However, the appeals court swiftly intervened to block the measure late Tuesday evening. The court is now set to hear further arguments on Wednesday.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott has been a vocal advocate for strengthening his state's ability to address the issue of illegal immigration. The Biden administration, on the other hand, has strongly opposed Abbott's efforts, arguing that the authority to arrest and deport undocumented migrants lies solely with the federal government.

Abbott has pointed to what he perceives as the Biden administration's inaction in handling the influx of migrants into Texas border towns as the reason for his state's proactive stance. Despite an anticipated potential complication from the appeals court, Abbott expressed satisfaction with the initial Supreme Court decision, stating that it was a "positive development."

Under SB 4, illegal entry into the state would be deemed a state crime, allowing law enforcement officers to arrest illegal migrants. Additionally, judges would be authorized to order their deportation. However, the law's activation has been short-lived, with it technically being in effect for only a few minutes on Monday and less than 10 hours on Tuesday.

The Mexican government has strongly opposed the law, and it remains uncertain whether they would accept deported migrants into their country. With Customs and Border Protection reporting a record number of encounters at the border in December 2023, surpassing 300,000 attempted crossings, the issue of illegal immigration continues to be a pressing concern.

The surge of migrants has led to overcrowding in migrant holding facilities and a significant backlog of over 3 million cases in immigration courts. As part of his broader efforts to curb the influx, Governor Abbott has taken steps such as erecting fencing around a park along the Rio Grande, which had become a gathering point for undocumented border crossers.

The battle over SB 4 in the courts highlights the ongoing debate and legal challenges surrounding immigration policy in the United States. As the case progresses, the fate of the law and how it will impact border enforcement measures remains uncertain.