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Texas Sues Biden Administration Over Halt to Deportations

Associated Press

   AUSTIN, TEXAS - Texas on Friday moved to stop President Joe Biden from
   allowing a 100-day moratorium on deportations, bringing one of the
   first lawsuits against his new administration.

   The lawsuit seeks a halt to the deportation moratorium "for certain
   noncitizens" that was to begin Friday. Biden has signed a raft of
   executive orders, including one revoking former President Donald
   Trump's mandate that made anyone in the U.S. illegally a priority for
   deportation.

   Texas claims the moratorium violates an agreement, signed in the waning
   weeks of Trump's presidency, that required the federal government to
   run changes in immigration enforcement past the state first. BuzzFeed
   News first reported the Trump administration signing similar agreements
   with Republican leaders in several states. Legal scholars have
   expressed doubt that the agreements will be enforceable in court.

   "Failure to properly enforce the law will directly and immediately
   endanger our citizens and law enforcement personnel," Republican Texas
   Attorney General Ken Paxton said.

   The Department of Homeland Security referred questions to the White
   House, which did not immediately respond.

   The lawsuit, which repeatedly cites Texas' agreement with the Trump
   administration, was filed before U.S. District Judge Drew Tipton, a
   Trump appointee, in the Southern District of Texas.

   Biden's actions

   Since taking office Wednesday, Biden has shown intent to unwind many of
   Trump's immigration crackdowns. His first steps included stopping
   construction of a border wall with Mexico and lifting a travel ban on
   people from several predominantly Muslim countries.

   Biden also says he will push to give legal status and a path to
   citizenship to anyone in the United States before January 1, an
   estimated 11 million people.

   Texas shares more than 1,200 miles of border with Mexico, which the
   state's Republican leaders say makes the state particularly invested in
   the nation's immigration policies. It also received thousands of
   refugees annually before Trump virtually ended admissions.

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