Federal Judge Blocks Certain Provisions of Texas Immigration Law

The judge said the Texas law ‘could open the door to each state passing its own version of immigration laws.’

U.S. Army combat engineers place razor wire on the U.S.-Mexico border wall to reinforce security in El Paso Texas, as seen from Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, on July 24, 2025. Jose Luis Gonzalez/Reuters

A federal judge on May 14 blocked enforcement of certain provisions of a Texas immigration law that criminalize at the state level illegal entry or reentry into the United States after deportation.

In a 78-page order, U.S. District Judge David Ezra granted a preliminary injunction sought by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Texas and other groups pursuing a class-action lawsuit to represent thousands of people across the state seeking to challenge Senate Bill 4 (SB 4), which was set to take effect on May 15.