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Today, Congresswoman Veronica Escobar (TX-16) released the following statement regarding the federal lawsuit filed against Senate Bill 4:

“I’m proud that El Paso is once again standing up to the State of Texas and Governor Greg Abbott in the brazenly unconstitutional effort to detain and jail migrants under SB4. This law, a throwback to prior unconstitutional efforts by states to go after immigrants, is guaranteed to fuel civil rights violations and racial profiling by the State of Texas in border communities.

“There is no doubt that the situation at our southern border requires urgent action. But make no mistake about it: Texas isn’t trying to find a solution. The State of Texas has sued the Biden administration to prevent it from implementing changes that could help address the situation, and Governor Abbott has chosen to use this historic western hemispheric refugee crisis as a political opportunity.

“It is ultimately Congress’s job to reform outdated immigration laws and propose legislative solutions that uphold our values, enhance our security, and create a humane, thoughtful immigration system.

“I call on my Congressional colleagues to support the Dignity Act, the only bipartisan comprehensive immigration reform bill in Congress, which addresses the challenges and opportunities that we face today at the border and beyond. And I renew my call to the Department of Justice to intervene as well.”