Mexico’s Supreme Court has invalidated Jalisco legislation that allows local law enforcement to check the immigration papers of foreigners.
The ruling states that only federal authorities have the jurisdiction to ask to see documentation and verify a person’s legal status in the country.
The court decision overturns Article 4 of the Ley de Proteccion y Atencion de los Migrantes en el Estado de Jalisco, obliging migrants to show their immigration documents to “competent” authorities when asked to. This applies to state and municipal police, as well as transit officers.
The Supreme Court described the local law as unconstitutional, as it infringes on legal protections offered to foreigners under the Mexican Constitution.
The issue has gained greater significance in recent weeks as Mexico tightens control over Central American migrants passing through the country in answer to U.S. President Donald Trump’s threat to impose tariffs on exports.