The U.S. Supreme Court has given Texas the thumbs up to start applying a much-debated immigration law. The law grants Texas officials the power to arrest and hold individuals they believe have entered the U.S. without permission.

With the court's three liberal justices opposing, the move temporarily sides with Texas in its ongoing clash with the Biden administration over immigration policies.

Senate Bill 4, signed into law by Gov. Greg Abbott last December, now classifies unauthorized entry into Texas as a state crime. It even allows state judges to deport immigrants, marking a bold step into territory usually managed by the federal government.

Immigration advocates are concerned about the potential for racial profiling and the mishandling of detentions and deportations by state authorities.

The White House has also expressed disagreement, saying it sows confusion and undermines safety and law enforcement efforts at the southern border.

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