The Justice Department through Attorney General Merrick Garland, urged Texas Governor Gregg Abbott to lift his new migrant order, calling it both "dangerous and unlawful."

Associated Press noted that the mandate Abbott signed on Wednesday, would allow state troopers to stop vehicles carrying migrants on the basis that they might worsen the spread of the COVID-19 in the U.S.

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CBS News reported that Garland sent a letter addressed to Abbott, arguing that the mandate would interfere with the federal immigration enforcement.

"Among other harms, the order would exacerbate and prolong overcrowding in facilities and shelters and obstruct the federal government's arrangements with state, local, and non-governmental partners," Garland said in the letter.

Garland also noted that the federal government could file a lawsuit against Texas if the new migrant order would not be lifted.

Associated Press reported that the letter sent by Garland was the most "forceful" opposition of the Biden administration against the actions Greg Abbott has taken along the U.S. Mexico border.

Texas Gov. Gregg Abbott's New Migrant Order Draws Criticisms From Groups

Before the Justice Department, several organizations such as the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) labeled Abbott's measure as "outrageous," The Dallas Morning News reported.

"Governor Greg Abbot's latest efforts to make Texas an anti-immigrant police state are yet another unconstitutional assault on civil rights targeting border communities," ACLU Texas Attorney Kate Huddleston emphasized in a statement. Huddleston also noted that the measure sustains a "long, racist history" of blaming the spread of the virus on immigrants.

The Dallas Morning News also highlighted that the new mandate also affects the activities of the legal and religious nonprofits that assist migrants with shelter, while they wait to reunite with their families away from the Texas border.

"It's wrong to criminalize generosity towards those in need," Hope border Institute's Hannah Holllandbyrd said.

Meanwhile, Democratic State Representative Rafael Anchia also slammed the Texas governor for his new migrant order. Anchia noted that Abbott's new mandate was a "flagrant attempt" to solve the governor's ineffective leadership.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott's New Migrant Order

The criticisms from the Justice Department happened as Abbott issued a new migrant order over his concerns about the spread of the coronavirus.

"We must do more to protect Texans from this virus [COVID-19] and reduce the burden to our communities," Abbott noted.

In the order, the Department of Public Safety (DPS) was permitted to stop vehicles that are not from the federal, state, or local law enforcement officials, who are providing ground transportation to groups of migrants. Furthermore, the DPS shall reroute the said vehicle back to its point of origin or entry, when confirmed.

It can be recalled that it was not the first time Abbott sounded his concerns on migrants and the virus spread. In March, the Texas governor had similar worries without providing evidence that migrants cause the surge of COVID cases.

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This article is owned by Latin Post

Written By: Joshua Summers

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