The Hill
By Ben Kamisar
January 12, 2015
A
group of 12 states are coming to bat for President Obama’s
controversial immigration actions by filing a “friend of the court”
brief to defend the policies
in a lawsuit filed by more than 20 other states.
Washington
Attorney General Bob Ferguson, who leads the charge, filed the brief in
a Texas federal court on Monday. Attorneys General from California,
Connecticut,
Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Mexico, New York,
Oregon, Vermont and the District of Columbia join him on the brief.
“By
properly using his authority to set enforcement priorities, the
president’s action benefits Washington and other states by improving
public safety, keeping
families together, and aiding our economy,” Ferguson said in a
statement.
“Hard working, tax paying immigrants can now emerge from the shadows.”
Obama’s
September decision to defer deportations for up to 5 million
undocumented immigrants and allow them to apply for work permits has
been criticized harshly
from Republicans and some centrist Democrats.
The
coalition of top prosecutors argue that the will bring more economic
benefit to the country than harm. It cites an estimate from the liberal
Center for
American Progress that the changes will provide the states millions in
tax revenues over the next five years.
California
stands to benefit the most, according to the estimates, with $904
million in revenues over that period. Texas, the state that is leading
the opposition
in court, would receive $338 million in tax revenue according to the
Center for American Progress.
The
states also make legal arguments that the states don’t have the correct
legal standing needed to file a challenge because of those benefits. A
court would
need to rule that the states have proper standing before allowing a
case to continue.
But
the suit led by former Texas Attorney General and current Gov. Greg
Abbott charges Obama with executive overreach and violating the
constitution. That
complaint says the president isn’t abiding by his oath to execute
Congressional laws, instead changing the law himself. The states also
said that Obama’s actions will force states to pay more for health care,
education and law enforcement while adding to undocumented
immigration along the southern border.
For more information, go to: www.beverlyhillsimmigrationlaw.com
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