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.

A judge in Illinois denied Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s request to enforce civil arrest warrants for the absent Texas House Democrats currently in Illinois, arguing the court does not have the jurisdiction to rule in the matter.

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

The Texas Senate voted 19-2 along party lines on Tuesday to approve a congressional redistricting map that is identical to a version in the Texas House.

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.