President Obama On Immigration Lawsuit: “The Law Is On Our Side”

In response to an immigration lawsuit filed by the attorneys general of 26 states, President Barack Obama claimed that he would win and that his controversial executive orders on undocumented immigrants would stand. Earlier this week, he told the New York Times that, “The law is on our side.” The immigration lawsuit has been contested in the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, in New Orleans, for more than three months. The case continues to draw more attention as the 2016 presidential campaign approaches.

Details of the Immigration Lawsuit

Last November, President Obama issued executive orders that would allow more than four million undocumented immigrants to delay their deportation hearings. The immigration lawsuit claims that the executive orders allowed the President to exceed his authority and violate the U.S. Constitution. The attorneys general also claim in their immigration lawsuit that the increased numbers of undocumented immigrants places a burden on state resources, such as welfare, health care and public schools.

“Waiting Game” in Immigration Lawsuit

While the attorneys general in more than half the states filed the immigration lawsuit almost as soon as President Obama issued the executive orders, the process of resolving the issues has been a slow one. When President Obama issued the executive orders, a new office was established to handle the millions of applications for the delayed deportation process. However, a federal judge in Brownsville, Texas, ordered a halt to all activities related to the process until the immigration lawsuit could be settled.

Immigration Lawsuit Draws Protests

The slow action on the immigration lawsuit has drawn protests from immigrant activist groups. Kica Matos, the director of immigrant rights for the Center for Community Change, told reporters that the delays in ruling on the immigration lawsuit has “tak(en) on the tenor of political behavior that is unconscionable for a federal court.” She said that the court’s attempts to “run out the clock to achieve political goals” is “not acceptable” and that “we want to let the court know that we are watching.”

Immigration Lawsuit and Presidential Politics

The delays in the immigration lawsuit could play into the upcoming 2016 presidential election. If the Court of Appeals continues its delays on the immigration lawsuit, the President’s legal team will not have time to submit the case to the Supreme Court before the election. The immigration issue has played heavily in the early presidential debates, especially with Republican candidate Donald Trump. Marielena Hincapié, the executive director of the National Immigration Law Center, told reporters, “There will be people who will wait” until the case is resolved to decide if they can apply for deferment.

Source: New York Times

Get Answers For Your Immigration Lawsuit Questions

To find out how we can answer your questions about your immigration lawsuit, contact one of our attorneys today. Our intake team will take down the details of your case, connect you to an attorney who understands immigration lawsuits. You can also fill out the “Free Case Evaluation” form at the top of this page.

NOTE: This post is a news story and does not imply an endorsement of Arguello Law Firm by any of the parties mentioned herein.