SCOTUS stays Texas law that allows police to arrest, detain illegal migrants --Texas's Senate Bill 4 is being contested by the Department of Justice | 4 March 2024 | The Supreme Court issued a stay against the Texas law that expands police officers' powers to detain migrants, temporarily halting enforcement. The order, which was decided on Monday, was signed by Associate Justice Samuel Alito. The stay prevents the Texas law, which is called SB 4, from going into effect until 5 p.m. on Mar. 12, at the earliest. The move from the Supreme Court came after the Department of Justice (DOJ) asked the court to temporarily block enforcement of the state law. The agency had filed an emergency appeal.