Photo: Texas Governor's Office
Senate Bill 4 is already facing challenges after being signed into law on Monday by Gov. Greg Abbott. The bill creates a new state crime for illegal entry or re-entry into Texas, with penalties ranging from 180-days to 20-years in prison. The law is scheduled to take effect in March 2024. But Democratic Rep. Joaquin Castro is asking the Justice Department to prevent SB 4 from going into effect. Castro and other Democrats in the Texas U.S. House delegation and the Congressional Hispanic Caucus sent a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland.