First Thing: Texas governor signs bill allowing police to arrest migrants entering US illegally

Law gives officers sweeping powers as well as empowering local judges to order people's expulsion. Plus, is the book world turning against Goodreads?

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Good morning.

The Texas governor, Greg Abbott, yesterday signed a bill giving all police in the state sweeping new powers to arrest migrants deemed to have entered the US illegally as well as empowering local judges to order their expulsion back across the US-Mexico border.

What do critics say about the new law? Critics say that apart from racial profiling, the law could prompt the wrongful arrest of US citizens and immigrants who are in the country legally. Democrats have also said it would make immigrants who are victims of crime afraid to contact police. Mexico's government had also criticized the measure when it was being debated in the Texas legislature, warning it would result in family separations and racial profiling.

What has the US been doing to help the situation? A range of US diplomats have visited Jerusalem to urge the Israeli government to adopt different military tactics, but with only limited success. US support for a suspension of hostilities at the UN, if it happened, would be a clear signal of its frustration with the Israeli government.