Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton stood firm in defense of Texas's SB 4, the state's new border security law, during the oral argument at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. Paxton expressed pride in his office's defense, stating, "Today, my office was proud to defend SB 4, Texas’s new border security law, in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit."
During the proceedings, Texas argued that the provisions of SB 4 were crafted to align with the legal scope set by the Arizona case. The state also emphasized the inadequacy of federal border protection, with a recent federal judge's observation that the government has failed to prevent unlawful entry into the U.S. Paxton stressed that the border crisis is unparalleled in terms of volume and cartel violence, pointing out the need for stringent measures.
Furthermore, Texas contended that the federal government lacked the authority to initiate the lawsuit, asserting, "Congress never authorized such litigation." Despite the robust defense presented by Texas, Paxton highlighted that some media outlets, such as CNN, misconstrued the arguments by taking statements out of context to mislead their audience. He clarified, "Texas in no way made any concession, despite CNN’s and other dishonest reports to the contrary."
In conclusion, Paxton reaffirmed Texas's commitment to safeguarding national sovereignty and upholding the rule of law, stating, "As always, I am proud that Texas is leading the way to protect our nation’s sovereignty and security and to uphold the rule of law." The public is encouraged to access the court's recording of Texas's argument to gain a comprehensive understanding of the proceedings.