U.S. Court Blocks 4 Key Texas SB 4 Provisions After May 4 Class Action
Updated
Updated · ACLU of Texas · May 15
U.S. Court Blocks 4 Key Texas SB 4 Provisions After May 4 Class Action
13 articles · Updated · ACLU of Texas · May 15
A federal judge in Austin granted provisional class certification and a preliminary injunction blocking four key provisions of Texas Senate Bill 4, shielding thousands who could face prosecution under its reentry section.
Judge David Ezra said SB 4 would let states create their own immigration regimes, undermining the federal government’s uniform control over immigration law.
The ACLU of Texas, the ACLU and the Texas Civil Rights Project filed the class-action suit on May 4, recasting the challenge after the 5th Circuit threw out an earlier injunction on standing grounds.
One SB 4 provision on illegal entry is still set to take effect May 15, even though advocates said it raises the same constitutional problems as the blocked sections.
The ruling revives a broader fight over whether Texas can criminalize border crossings and removals on its own after appellate judges split over the law in 2025 and 2026.
As other states pursue similar laws, will this federal court ruling serve as a national roadblock or a legal detour?
Since police can still arrest for unlawful entry, how has daily life for Texas residents and immigrants actually changed?
Texas SB 4’s Partial Block in 2026: Legal Showdown, Stakeholder Reactions, and the Future of State Immigration Enforcement
Overview
On May 14, 2026, a federal judge issued a ruling that significantly changed how Texas Senate Bill 4 (SB 4) would be enforced. The judge blocked several key parts of the law as unconstitutional but allowed the 'illegal entry' provision to take effect the next day. This created a complex and uncertain situation for enforcement across Texas. The decision followed weeks of intense legal challenges from immigrant advocates and civil rights groups, including a class-action lawsuit by the ACLU and others. As a result, Texas faced immediate confusion and concern about how the law would impact communities and law enforcement.