In 2023, U.S. Customs and Border Protection recorded more than 3.2 million encounters with illegal immigrants entering the country; 169 of those apprehended while attempting to enter the country illegally were on the terrorist watchlist. Estimates of the number of people who cross illegally and are not apprehended continue to rise and in December 2023, there were 302,000 CBP encounters along the southern border, the highest monthly total ever recorded. In the last year alone, CBP seized 27,293 pounds of fentanyl along the southern border but it is estimated that this is only 5-10 percent of the total that crossed the border.

Texas recently passed SB. 4 a law that allows state and local authorities to apprehend anyone whom they believe is in the country illegally. The federal government administration has challenged the law’s constitutionality in court arguing that Texas is interfering with the federal government’s exclusive authority to regulate the entry and removal of noncitizens.

How is the federal government addressing immigration and pursuing enforcement policies? Is the Administration issuing regulations and executive orders that comport with the law? What role should states and their law enforcement authorities play? This panel will discuss these and other important related issues.

Featuring:
-Hon. Mark Brnovich, Former Attorney General, State of Arizona
-Dr. Sohan Dasgupta, Partner, Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP
-Prof. Ilya Somin, Professor of Law, Antonin Scalia Law School, George Mason University
-Moderator: Hon. Beth A. Williams, Board Member, U.S. Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board

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As always, the Federalist Society takes no position on particular legal or public policy issues; all expressions of opinion are those of the speaker.