Austin, Texas – A federal judge has temporarily blocked Texas Governor Greg Abbott's controversial executive order allowing state troopers to pull over any driver they suspect of transporting migrants into the US.

The decision came on Tuesday, with US District Judge Kathleen Cardone ruling Abbott's order causes "irreparable injury" to the US and to immigrants in custody, the Houston Chronicle reported.

The order had prevented contractors hired by the US government from transporting migrants to and from shelters. The vast majority of those migrants are asylum seekers awaiting court dates, explained Felicia Rangel-Samponaro, co-director of the Sidewalk School, a nonprofit that helps with transport.

Rangel-Samponaro added that the ban "is putting a strain on all of the (non-governmental organizations) and the cities that they’re crossing into – McAllen, Brownsville. It’s putting a strain on our resources."

The US Justice Department sued Texas on Friday, arguing that the governor was obstructing the "administration of federal immigration law."

Abbott justified his order by saying that migrants are bringing Covid-19 into Texas, despite himself lifting the mask mandate in the state.

Defending his decision, the Republican governor said on Tuesday night, "We look forward to providing the court with the evidence to support the governor’s executive order to protect Texans. The Biden administration has knowingly – and willfully – released COVID-19 positive migrants into Texas communities, risking the potential exposure and infection of Texas residents."

Cardone said she needs "a fuller presentation of the facts and law" in order to decide whether to continue blocking the order past August 13.