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8 UNT Dallas L. Rev. On the Cusp [i] (2026)

handle is hein.journals/ontcp8 and id is 1 raw text is: VOLUME 8 1 ISSUE 1 I JANUARY 2026 IS IT TOO LATE TO PROSECUTE GOVERNOR GREG ABBOTT? Brian Owsley CONTENTS INTRODUCTION.. ... ............................. .......... .... ........ ...................1 I. STATE INITIATIVES CHALLENGING THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S ROLE IN IMMIGRATION POLICY DURING THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION..............................2 A. Governor Abbott Launched Operation Lone Star to Promote His Immigration P o lic ie s ...................................................................................................................3 B. Texas Enacted State Laws to Supplant Federal Immigration Policy .....................5 C. Other States Passed Legislation Similar to the Texas Model Seeking to Supplant Federal Immigration Policy in Various Ways........................................................7 D. Governor Abbott Transported Undocumented Individualsfrom Texas to Cities Across the Country.................................................................................................10 II. THE SUPREME COURT'S JURISPRUDENCE UNDERCUTS SB4................................12 A. The Supreme Court Decision in Arizona v. United States is Controlling and Preempts SB4.........................................................................................................12 B. Texas Law is Preempted by Federal Law Criminalizing Illegal Entry............16 C. Texas Law is Preempted by Federal Law Criminalizing Illegal Reentry..............20 D. Removal of Undocumented Individuals by Texas State Judges in Criminal Proceedings is Preempted by Federal Law ...........................................................20 E. Texas State Judges Cannot Dismiss a Criminal Prosecution While the Federal Government is Assessing the Texas State Defendant's Immigration Status.....23 III. THE HISTORY OF CONGRESSIONAL LEGISLATION OF IMMIGRATION LAW IN THE UNITED STATES DEMONSTRATES THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS RESPONSIBLE....... 24 IV. TRANSPORTING OR MOVING UNDOCUMENTED INDIVIDUALS WITHIN THE UNITED STATES VIOLATES FEDERAL CRIMINAL LAW................................................26 A. The Federal Government Could Charge Governor Abbott with Transporting Undocumented Individuals....................................................................................28 B. The Federal Government Could Charge Governor Abbott with Conspiracy to Transport Undocum ented Individuals...................................................................30 C. The Federal Government Could Charge Governor Abbott with Aiding and Abetting the Transportation of Undocumented Individuals..................................31 V. CONCLUSION..................................................................................................................32 UNTDallas LawReview ON T H E CU S P