Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has reignited a longstanding feud with Texas Governor Greg Abbott over U.S. border security, vowing to challenge the Lone Star State's new immigration law. The legislation, signed by Abbott on Monday, grants law enforcement the authority to arrest illegal immigrants, who would then face the choice of leaving the U.S. or being prosecuted for misdemeanor charges related to illegal entry.

Lopez Obrador responded furiously to the new law, accusing Abbott of pursuing political popularity and asserting that it would backfire due to the significant number of Mexicans residing in Texas. The Mexican president declared that the country's foreign ministry is already working on a legal challenge to the law.

This is not the first clash between Mexico and Texas, as well as other Republican lawmakers, regarding the ongoing migrant crisis. Earlier this year, the Mexican Foreign Ministry filed a complaint against Texas over the state's construction of buoys on the Rio Grande. Mexico deemed this action a violation of its sovereignty and expressed concerns about the impact on human rights and migrant safety.

The Abbott administration defended the immigration law, citing the need to address the "tidal wave" of illegal immigration. A spokesperson for the governor argued that such policies were a consequence of the "reckless open-border policies" of President Joe Biden and President Lopez Obrador, asserting that securing the border was essential for preserving human life.

Lopez Obrador has actively urged Hispanics, including Mexicans living in the United States, not to support Abbott and other Republican lawmakers. In response to the buoys issue, he called on his compatriots not to vote for Abbott and Republican Party candidates who endorsed such measures.

Earlier this year, the Mexican president launched an "information campaign" against Republicans who pushed for increased action against drug cartels, including military intervention, in response to the fentanyl crisis in the United States. Lopez Obrador accused the Republicans of using Mexico for their electoral and political purposes, labeling their actions as irresponsible, interventionist, inhumane, hypocritical, and corrupt.

Lopez Obrador has also directed criticism at Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who is running for presidential candidacy in 2024. He urged Hispanics in Florida to reject DeSantis and any politicians who persecute or fail to respect migrants.

With tensions escalating between Lopez Obrador and Abbott, the legal challenge to Texas' immigration law could further strain the already fragile relationship between Mexico and Texas. The outcome of this battle is poised to have significant implications for both countries' immigration policies and their political landscape.

As the dispute rages on, it remains to be seen whether Mexico's legal challenge will succeed and how it may impact the broader debate surrounding immigration reform and border security in the United States.