Since President Obama’s announcement in November 2014 about the Executive Action on Immigration, twenty-four states have signed a lawsuit to challenge the legality of the action. This coalition of states, led by incoming Texas Governor Greg Abbott, view the president’s action to implement reform-minded policies and regulations as unconstitutional. As part of the lawsuit challenging the legality of the action, Abbott claims the action will “exacerbate the humanitarian crisis along the southern border, which will affect increased state investment in law enforcement, health care and education.”
As of December 2014, the states involved in the legal challenge include: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, North Carolina, South Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, West Virginia and Wisconsin.
In a statement to the press, Abbott said he was “prepared to immediately challenge President Obama in court, securing our state’s sovereignty and guaranteeing the rule of law as it was intended under the Constitution.” In response, Obama made a statement earlier this week pointing out that this order was completely within the president’s authority and a necessary action due to Congress’s lack of decision on immigration reform. For additional information about these states’ efforts to block the Executive Action, click here. For additional information about the legal and constitutional basis for the President’s actions on immigration law. click here. For more information on executive action and immigration policies, contact us.