Fed judge appears skeptical of new border law

A federal judge is expected to rule quickly on the constitutionality of a Texas law about to go into effect that institutes new state penalties for illegal border crossings.

During a hearing last week, U.S. District Judge David Ezra said he had concerns that other states would follow Texas’ lead in creating their own immigration laws — a power given exclusively to the federal government under the U.S. Constitution.

The Austin American-Statesman reported the U.S. Justice Department sued the state over the law set to go into effect next month. It would allow any law enforcement official in the state to arrest someone here illegally, with mandatory sentences of between six months and 20 years.