The governor of Texas signed a law allowing the detention of illegal immigrants

The governor of Texas has signed legislation allowing state authorities to detain and deport people suspected of illegally crossing the US-Mexico border.

Abbott, who signed the bill at a ceremony in the border town of Brownsville, accused President Joe Biden of doing nothing to stem the "surge of illegal entry" into Texas, saying the measure would reduce unauthorized arrivals by 50 to 75 percent.

"Biden's willful inaction has put Texas in a difficult position," Abbott said, noting that the consequences of unauthorized entry under the measure are "so severe that people smuggled by cartels don't want to come to Texas."

Under the new law, Texas State Police will be able to arrest anyone suspected of crossing the border illegally, and local judges will have the power to decide whether to deport them.

Republican Gov. Greg Abbott's approval of Senate Bill 4 on Monday set off a legal battle with the federal government, which is usually tasked with enforcing immigration laws.

Critics have called the law the most sweeping attempt to regulate immigration since Arizona's law, which was struck down by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2010.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Texas said Monday it would challenge the measure in court, saying the bill "contradicts federal immigration law" and incites racial tensions.

More than 20 Democrats in Congress also signed a letter urging the US Department of Justice to file a lawsuit to overturn the document.