This footage was filmed and produced 12 November 2023.

The US Supreme Court temporarily stayed implementation of Texas' controversial immigration law, which allows state authorities to arrest and detain people suspected of entering the country illegally.

Judge Samuel Alito issued the administrative stay, which will block the measure from taking effect until 13 March. This temporary pause will give the court additional time to review the brief in the case, although it does not necessarily indicate which way the court is leaning on the underlying request.

Hours earlier, the Biden administration and several immigrant advocacy groups filed an emergency petition with the Supreme Court, asking the justices to block implementation of the law.

Without the Supreme Court's intervention, the controversial law would have gone into effect on the morning of 10 March. The Justice Department warned in its request that the measure would "profoundly alter the status quo that has existed between the United States and the states in the immigration context for nearly 150 years".

The law, dubbed SB4, was signed into law by Texas Governor Greg Abbott last December. It immediately raised concerns among immigration advocates about the possibility of further racial profiling, as well as arrests and attempted deportations by state authorities in Texas, where Latinos make up 40 per cent of the population.

SHOTLIST:
1. Various from the U.S. Supreme Court building;
2. Various from Border Patrol (Nov 12, 2023);
3. Various from border crossing (Nov 12, 2023);
4. US flag (Nov 12, 2023);
5. Various from the border (Nov 12, 2023);
6. Various from migrant camp (Nov 12, 2023).