(NewsNation) — A bill currently awaiting Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s signature is one that law enforcement says would help curb human smuggling along the Texas-Mexico border.

The law would make it a crime to cross into Texas from Mexico illegally. It would pave the way for Texas officers to arrest people they suspected of entering the country without proper documentation.

Kinney County Sheriff Brad Coe is backing SB4, contending they have already seen 226 pursuits since January compared to 168 for all of last year.

The pursuits often ensue when a person is trying to evade law enforcement, as many of them are attempting to smuggle undocumented individuals who just crossed into Texas further into the U.S. Those people being smuggled could be arrested under SB4. Officials, however, have to prove they crossed the border illegally.

A 17-year-old passenger who spoke with NewsNation said he is being tried as an adult for smuggling. The Dallas resident said it was his first time attempting to smuggle someone. Jonathan Rodriguez said he responded to an ad on Telegram that promised to pay him and his friend $1,300 each.

The plot failed when the driver ran a stop sign.

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Despite criticism of the law and questions about its legality, Coe said he believes it is legal.

“Under the constitution, I think it is legal because A: We’re in a border crisis. B: We’ve seen the huge number influx. I think we have enough grounds there to protect our people under the constitution,” Coe said.

Republican Texas State Rep. David Spiller sought to clarify the bill, emphasizing its distinction from Arizona’s stringent “show me your papers” law, in an exclusive interview on “NewsNation Prime.”

“I think worth noting is the fact that this is a misdemeanor. We’re not trying to round up folks that have been here for years,” Spiller said.

Critics, including Democratic Congressmen Greg Casar and Joaquin Castro, raised concerns about potential racial profiling and the broad scope of the legislation. They argue that the bill could turn every Texas police officer into an immigration officer and may disproportionately target individuals based on their skin color.