More than 200 demonstrators marched through downtown Dallas on Sunday, demanding the abolition of SB4.
SB4, a contentious immigration law in Texas, would authorize police, sheriff’s deputies, and state troopers to apprehend individuals suspected of unlawfully entering the U.S.
Organizers of the protest asserted that SB4 poses a danger to migrants and the Hispanic community statewide.
Describing the law as unconstitutional, Tony Rodriguez, chair of the Brown Berets of DFW, characterized SB4 as one of the most extreme anti-immigrant statutes ever enacted by a state legislature.
Enacted by the Texas state legislature in November, SB4 criminalizes unlawful entry into Texas from Mexico as a misdemeanor, empowering local and state law enforcement officers to detain suspected illegal immigrants. Additionally, the law mandates the deportation of individuals convicted under SB4 to Mexico.
SB4 has been temporarily halted since Tuesday night while the US Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals deliberates on a lawsuit brought by El Paso County and immigrant advocates challenging the law.
Opponents of SB4 argue that permitting Texas law enforcement officers to conduct immigration enforcement violates the constitution.
Xavier Velasquez, President of La Frontera Nos Cruzó, asserted that SB4 gives law enforcement officers unchecked authority to racially discriminate, potentially leading to the unjust detention of individuals based solely on their ethnicity.
Conservative proponents argue that SB4 is essential for Texas to enhance border security amid unprecedented migration.
Governor Greg Abbott of Texas emphasized the Texas Department of Public Safety’s efforts in apprehending over 40,000 individuals who unlawfully crossed the border, pledging continued utilization of every available resource to arrest and detain such individuals.
However, demonstrators contended that SB4 endangers the Hispanic community in North Texas, prompting them to convey their discontent to Dallas City Hall and beyond.
Velasquez expressed the significance of mobilizing people to voice their dissatisfaction, asserting that their collective action would compel leaders to heed their concerns.
The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals is expected to issue a ruling soon on whether to uphold or block SB4. Subsequently, the constitutionality of SB4 is anticipated to be reviewed by the US Supreme Court.
