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Texas AG Paxton suing over Biden administration's deportation pause

Ken Paxton
Posted at 1:39 PM, Jan 22, 2021
and last updated 2021-01-22 16:55:06-05

Attorney General Ken Paxton today filed a complaint and motion for temporary restraining order in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas, asking the Court to immediately halt the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) freeze on deportations of certain noncitizens.

The Department of Homeland Security said it was pausing removals for “certain noncitizens ordered deported” following an executive order signed by President Joe Biden on Wednesday.

The Biden administration said the 100-day moratorium is in place to “ensure we have a fair and effective immigration enforcement system focused on protecting national security, border security and public safety.”

Paxton said the move "violates the U.S. Constitution, federal immigration and administrative law, and a contractual agreement between Texas and DHS."

"Our state defends the largest section of the southern border in the nation. Failure to properly enforce the law will directly and immediately endanger our citizens and law enforcement personnel,” said Attorney General Paxton.

The Department of Homeland Security said that during this 100-day period, it will continue to enforce US immigration laws.

Read a copy of Paxton's letter here. Read a copy of the complaint here.

Biden signed several immigration and border-related orders on Wednesday.