A federal court has ruled that a 2023 Texas law allowing state and local police officers to arrest migrants who illegally cross the Mexico border is legal, reversing an earlier decision that had paused the measure.

The law, enacted in 2023, grants Texas state and local law enforcement the authority to arrest individuals suspected of crossing the U.S.-Mexico border illegally, a function traditionally reserved for federal immigration authorities.

The court had previously issued an injunction that prevented the law from taking effect while legal challenges proceeded. The new ruling lifts that pause and allows the state to begin implementing the enforcement provisions.

The decision represents a significant development in ongoing disputes between federal and state authorities over immigration enforcement along the southern border. The law gives Texas officials expanded powers to detain and potentially deport individuals who enter the state illegally from Mexico.

Legal experts anticipate the ruling will likely face an appeal, as immigration enforcement has historically been considered a federal responsibility under existing constitutional frameworks and established legal precedent.

The implementation of the law could affect thousands of migrants who cross the Texas-Mexico border, one of the most heavily trafficked sections of the U.S. southern border.