Abbott’s Discriminatory Order to Return Migrants Flies in the Face of Federal Authority

After Texas Gov. Greg Abbott issued an executive order empowering state authorities to return migrants they apprehend to the border, Voto Latino President and CEO Maria Teresa Kumar issued the following statement:

“By issuing this order, Gov. Abbott is unlawfully attempting to usurp the powers of the federal government. The U.S. Supreme Court has already made clear that federal authorities — not the states — have authority on immigration issues. This disgraceful power grab flies in the face of established legal precedent and must be challenged in the courts immediately.”

“This order will incentivize state law enforcement officers to intimidate and harass communities of color, subjecting them to even more biased surveillance and policing than they already face in their everyday lives. It’s a state-sanctioned racial profiling law under the guise of immigration — it’s reprehensible. I encourage the courts to step in and the Biden Administration to use the power of his pen to address our broken immigration system and send a clear message to Abbott and others that they cannot defy federal law.”

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Voto Latino is a grassroots political organization focused on educating and empowering a new generation of Latinx voters, as well as creating a more robust and inclusive democracy. Through innovative digital campaigns, culturally relevant programs and authentic voices, we shepherd the Latinx community towards the full realization of its political power.