Texas Sues U.S. Over Halt to Detentions of Criminal Migrants

(Bloomberg) -- Texas sued the Biden administration for ordering immigration officials to stop detaining undocumented immigrants who’ve completed their felony prison sentences for possible deportation.

President Joe Biden reversed a Trump-era policy that prevented certain undocumented immigrants who had been convicted of felonies from being put back on the streets, Texas claimed, in a challenge filed in federal court in Victoria, Texas.

Under former President Donald Trump, immigration officials were automatically allowed to ask state jailers to hold onto convicted felons who’d completed their sentences until federal officials could decide whether those individuals should be deported.

Texas claims that since Biden took office federal immigration officials rescinded several detainer requests, leaving state prison officials to either release criminals into the community or continue housing them at the expense of Texas taxpayers.

“By failing to take custody of criminal aliens and giving no explanation for this reckless policy change, the Biden administration is demonstrating a blatant disregard for Texans’ and Americans’ safety,” Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said in a statement announcing the lawsuit.

Texas’s challenge, filed with Louisiana, is the fourth the state has launched against Biden officials for rolling back Trump administration policies. The other challenges targeted Biden’s 100-day halt on deportations, his ban on offshore leasing activity, and his revocation of the Keystone XL pipeline’s border-crossing permit.

The case is: Texas v. U.S., 6:21-cv-16, U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas (Victoria).

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