Judge Calls Texas Law Authorizing Migrant Arrests a ‘Nightmare’

Texas’ attempt to carve into the federal government’s exclusive authority to arrest and charge non-citizens for entering the country illegally drew a chilly response from a federal judge Thursday.

Senior US District Judge David Ezra of the Western District of Texas said he’s sympathetic to concerns about migrant crossings overwhelming the southern border, but that states enforcing a patchwork of immigration laws would be a “nightmare.” Ezra also criticized the Republican-controlled Texas legislature for drafting the bill without first giving it “a lot more care.”

His skepticism signaled a likelihood he’ll side with the Biden administration in its request for ...