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We Will Resist Campaign Coalition Celebrates Preliminary Injunction on SB4; Resistance Efforts to Continue
EL PASO, Texas – Yesterday, a Federal court temporarily blocked Texas Senate Bill 4 (88-4), an unconstitutional, racist, and white-supremacist bill that would permit local and state law enforcement to arrest, detain, and deport people who are suspected to have entered Texas from another country without federal authorization. This decision is expected to be appealed by the state of Texas.
The We Will Resist campaign coalition celebrates this victory and applauds the American Civil Liberties Union of Texas and Texas Civil Rights Project, who challenged these efforts in the court on behalf of El Paso County, Las Americas Immigrant Advocacy Center, American Gateways, and thousands of Texas residents.
“Over 40 organizations across the state have actively mobilized their communities against the unconstitutional Senate Bill 4 and the illegal Operation Lone Star (OLS) through the We Will Resist Campaign. Today we celebrate this victory and reassure our communities that our resistance efforts will intensify to guarantee that across Texas, vulnerable residents and communities at risk are educated on their human and constitutional rights and organized to defend them. The work will not cede until Gov. Abbott’s illegal Operation Lone Star and ongoing crusade against border residents, people of color, refugees, and asylum seekers is defeated,” said Fernando Garcia, executive director of the Border Network for Human Rights (BNHR).
“Yesterday’s decision by the Federal court is a stepping stone to guaranteeing that the rights of all Texans remain protected from Gov. Abbott’s deplorable attacks. As the legal proceedings on the unconstitutional SB4 continue, we must remain vigilant to guaranteeing that Texans are educated and mobilized against Texas’ usurpation of federal authority to enforce harsh, inhumane, and illegal immigration laws and strategies,” remarked Lupita Sanchez, Executive Director of Border Workers United. “We are proud to be part of the resistance and are committed to continue educating, organizing, and defending border residents, people of color, and marginalized communities throughout Texas. We won’t back down until Operation Lone Star ends and SB4 is completely eradicated,” added Lupita Sanchez.
David Donatti (he/him), senior staff attorney at the ACLU of Texas, said: “The court’s decision to block this anti-immigrant law from taking effect is an important win for Texas values, human rights, and the U.S. Constitution. Our current immigration system needs repair because it forces millions of Americans into the shadows and shuts the door on people in need of safety. S.B. 4 would only make things worse. Cruelty to migrants is not a policy solution.”
“We welcome this encouraging ruling by federal Judge Ezra as Texans across the state continue facing Governor Abbott’s vicious anti-immigrant policies and rhetoric that have no place in our nation. We are in solidarity with the people of Texas and are committed to stopping any attempt that will intensify racial profiling and family separation. With our thousands of member activists across Texas, we remain committed to upholding the values of compassion, inclusivity, and dignity for all,” said Nancy Treviño of Presente.org.
“With today’s decision, the court sent a clear message to Texas: SB 4 is unconstitutional, and criminalizing Black, brown, indigenous, and immigrant communities will not be tolerated. This crucial decision allows us to continue to focus our efforts on building a safe, legal, humane immigration system, not contingent on abuses like racial profiling and harassment. We must continue to be vigilant against Texas' politics of fear and hatred. But today, immigrants and Texans of color get to pursue living lives of hope, opportunity, and family. It's a win worth celebrating,” said Jennifer Babaie, Director of Advocacy and Legal Services with Las Americas Immigrant Advocacy Center.
“Asian Texans for Justice (ATJ) applauds the federal court's decision to block SB4, a discriminatory, harmful, and unconstitutional law. Asian Texans, immigrants, and the community of color should not have to live in fear of policies that deny them of their rights to seek protection and refuge. ATJ remains steadfast in our commitment alongside coalition partners to resist the harmful border policies proposed by Texas state leaders,” said Lily Trieu, executive director of Asian Texans for Justice.
“No one is above the law, including Texas legislators. The United States Constitution is clear: the state cannot create a deportation system. Today, we celebrate the work of our partner legal defense to ensure that fair and just laws are upheld, while divisive and unconstitutional laws are challenged. Our community is big, strong, and will continue to fight a united front to protect one another and from these laws that are based on racism and xenophobia,” said Ivonne Diaz, Texas Rising Regional Program Coordinator for El Paso.
“Immigrant youth, people of color, and our allies have made it abundantly clear the type of future we want to build for our communities in Texas: a future where we are all safe, have the freedom to move without being policed, and truly feel at home. SB4 goes against this vision in every way, and would be catastrophic to the safety and well-being of our communities by giving Texas unchecked authority to racially profile our communities, separate families, and carry out mass detention and deportation efforts. United We Dream Action has fought SB4 from the start, driving thousands of calls in opposition to the bill’s racist and unconstitutional motives. While today’s preliminary injunction offers a moment of relief, Governor Abbott and his right-wing allies have already filed a notice of appeal to the 5th Circuit and will continue to try everything in their power to implement SB4. The Biden Administration and our democratic leaders have an urgent responsibility to stop these efforts in their tracks and deliver permanent protections for immigrant communities that ensure our safety and livelihoods are never jeopardized by the bad-faith, racist efforts of Governor Abbott and his allies’ single-minded pursuit to harm us,” said Juan Jose Martinez-Guevera, Texas Advocacy Manager of United We Dream Action
“The National Association of Social Workers Texas Chapter (NASW) respects U.S. District Judge David Ezra's decision to issue a preliminary injunction halting the implementation of SB 4 in Texas. This ruling upholds the federal government's jurisdiction over immigration policy, protecting migrant and border communities from potential harm. NASW-TX stands in solidarity with the immigrant and refugee communities, advocating for their fundamental human rights and dignity without discrimination. We remain committed to opposing any law that intentionally jeopardizes the well-being of these communities,” said Bryan Mares, Government Relations Director of National Association of Social Workers Texas.
“SB4 puts all Texans, regardless of status, in danger, especially Black and Brown Texans. While this SB 4 has been temporarily put on hold, all Texans must stand up and demand that this measure—which is sanctioned racial profiling—be permanently struck down. If allowed to go into effect SB 4 will no doubt be the blueprint for other anti-immigrant lawmakers in other states to copy,” said Immigrant Legal Resource Center Policy Attorney & Strategist Jennefer Canales-Pelaez.
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The We Will Resist Campaign is an initiative of the Border Network for Human Rights (BNHR) with the participation of over 40 Texas organizations. This campaign aims to mobilize Texan communities to demand the repeal of the unconstitutional Senate Bill 4 and Operation Lone Star (OLS).
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