Illinois law enforcement officers cannot arrest Texas House Democrats who have been staying in the northern state in protest of a congressional redistricting map, a state judge ruled Wednesday. The ruling,

Judge Scott Larson ruled that the Texas speaker and attorney general had “failed to present a legal basis for the court” to take up the issue.

House Speaker Dustin Burrows has issued civil arrest warrants for the absent members found to be in Texas. None has been executed to date.

Democrats' absence has halted work in the Texas House, which must also approve the new boundaries, for more than a week.

Texas Senate approves Republican-drawn redistricting maps in 19-2 vote as nine Democrats walk out in protest while House Democrats remain out of state.

The Texas Senate passed a GOP-friendly House map on Tuesday, putting it a step closer to final passage in the state Legislature. The upper chamber voted 19-2 to pass a new set of congressional lines that would give Republicans five pickup opportunities in the U.