The Department of Justice is reportedly warning Gov. Greg Abbott (R-TX) against enforcing a Texas law that would allow state officials to arrest people they suspect are in the country illegally.

The Houston Chronicle reports that Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton wrote in a letter to Abbott that if he does not assure the DOJ that Texas will not enforce the law by Jan. 3, 2024, “The United States will pursue all appropriate legal remedies to ensure that Texas does not interfere with the functions of the federal government.”

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In the letter, Boynton uses Supreme Court precedent to assert that the federal government holds the right to enforce immigration laws, rather than states.

“Indeed, the Supreme Court has confirmed that ‘the removal process’ must be ‘entrusted to the discretion of the Federal Government’ because a ‘decision on removability’ touches ‘on foreign relations and must be made with one voice,’” Boynton wrote, per the outlet.

The legislation, which Abbott signed into law earlier this month, is set to go into effect in March and would allow Texas law enforcement to arrest people suspected of being in the country illegally. The law outlines that those found to be in the U.S. illegally may be given the choice to leave the country or accept misdemeanor charges.

"Today in Brownsville, I signed three new laws to better protect Texans AND Americans from [President Joe] Biden’s open border policies," Abbott said about the law earlier this month. "Illegal entry into Texas is now a crime subject to removal or imprisonment. Texas will also fund new wall construction & increase human smuggling penalties."

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The law is part of Abbott's latest advancement of Operation Lone Star, which he began in 2021 to combat illegal immigration flowing into and through Texas.

The Washington Examiner has reached out to Abbott's office regarding the letter.