Chambers County Sheriff weighs in on new state law Senate Bill 4

tonight 12 news is tracking the back and forth at the border right now we're waiting on a federal appeals court to decide whether Texas can enforce a controversial immigration law sp4 would allow local police to arrest migrants who they believe crossed the border illegally enforcing this new law has been tricky though it was challenged almost immediately after Governor Greg Abbot signed it into law and it's been tied up in the court ever since 12 news reporter cladra rhods today is breaking down how Southeast Texas law enforcement officers are rea AC play Brenda both the Chambers County sheriff and Jefferson County district attorney say that being able to enforce the new law would put a strain on their departments the controversial immigration law would allow Texas police to arrest people suspected of Crossing into the state illegally generally in any situation where police are coming into contact with immigrants they could ask them to State their status now Chambers County Sheriff Brian hawthor tells 12 News s sp4 also gives deputies the ability to file an additional charge against an illegal immigrant arrested for another criminal charge but right now he says no clear instruction has been given Jefferson County district attorney Keith Giblin tells 12 News by the time a case gets to his desk it will be a little complicated until whether it's the fifth circuit or the Supreme Court determines the uh ability for us to enforce S sp4 I think every sheriff in the state is going to kind of Stand Down uh violation is is generally a Class B misdemeanor um and uh uh but there's there's enhancements and and uh and things that that the sentence can the possible sentence can go up or down and then that person is deported after their uh you know uh finish their sentence so the judge has to the local judge has to sign an order to to to immediately Deport that person this has been a fast moving story this week because of these Court decisions we're keeping you updated on 12newsnow.com in studio clayra roads