Statement on Senate Bill 4 Ruling by Representative Poncho Nevárez

(PRESS RELEASE) A panel of three U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals judges ruled Tuesday that most of Senate Bill 4 (SB 4) can remain in effect. This allows for local law enforcement officers to question the immigration status of people they detain or arrest.

The part of the bill not in effect is the provision making elected and appointed officials subject to a fine, jail time and possible removal from office if they endorse policies specifically prohibiting or limiting enforcement of immigration laws. The court allowed the injunction on that specific portion of the bill to remain in place.

Representative Nevárez responded with the following statement

“The 5th Circuit’s ruling is a setback, not a death sentence. Better days are coming. I have faith that this fight is not over.”  

The Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund, or MALDEF, and the ACLU represented several of the clients. They have stated that they are currently assessing the most appropriate legal course to continue to challenge and restrict SB 4, which includes appealing to the US Supreme Court.

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Representative Alfonso “Poncho” Nevárez is currently serving his third term as the State Representative for House District 74. He serves as the Vice-Chair of the Homeland Security and Public Safety Committee. He is also a member of the Natural Resources Committee, General Investigating and Ethics Committee, the Calendars Committee and the Texas Sunset Commission.