Politico reported that: The Obama administration is ratcheting up its efforts against state immigration laws around the country, according to a new report.
After suing Arizona and Alabama over immigration measures enacted in those states, the Justice Department is currently reviewing immigration laws in four other states to decide whether to challenge the measures, the Washington Post reported. The immigration measures being examined were enacted in Utah, Georgia, South Carolina and Indiana.
The Justice Department will examine the four laws to see the extent to which the measures interfere with the federal government’s enforcement of immigration law.
“Based on that review and applying those principles, the United States will decide whether and when to bring suit challenging particular state laws,” Justice Department spokesperson Xochitl Hinojosa said.
The potential challenges come at an opportune time for the White House, which is seeking to boost Hispanic support for President Barack Obama’s reelection bid.
“I don’t recall any time in history that the Justice Department has so aggressively challenged state laws,” Jonathan Turley, a constitutional law expert at George Washington University Law School, told the Post.
On Wednesday, a federal judge ruled that Alabama could begin enforcing some of the most controversial parts of its toughest-in-the-nation immigration law, including requirements for schools to verify students’ immigration status and for police to determine citizenship and status of those they stop, detain or arrest. Other provisions challenged by the Obama administration were blocked until a federal judge can make a final ruling.
The Supreme Court could decide to hear Arizona’s case — the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in April to blocked most of the contested parts of the law from taking effect — this term, before the 2012 election.
The laws in the Utah, Indiana, Georgia and South Carolina include a variety of controversial measures, such as making it a crime to harbor an illegal immigrant and allowing police to determine a person’s immigration status in certain situations.
After suing Arizona and Alabama over immigration measures enacted in those states, the Justice Department is currently reviewing immigration laws in four other states to decide whether to challenge the measures, the Washington Post reported. The immigration measures being examined were enacted in Utah, Georgia, South Carolina and Indiana.
The Justice Department will examine the four laws to see the extent to which the measures interfere with the federal government’s enforcement of immigration law.
“Based on that review and applying those principles, the United States will decide whether and when to bring suit challenging particular state laws,” Justice Department spokesperson Xochitl Hinojosa said.
The potential challenges come at an opportune time for the White House, which is seeking to boost Hispanic support for President Barack Obama’s reelection bid.
“I don’t recall any time in history that the Justice Department has so aggressively challenged state laws,” Jonathan Turley, a constitutional law expert at George Washington University Law School, told the Post.
On Wednesday, a federal judge ruled that Alabama could begin enforcing some of the most controversial parts of its toughest-in-the-nation immigration law, including requirements for schools to verify students’ immigration status and for police to determine citizenship and status of those they stop, detain or arrest. Other provisions challenged by the Obama administration were blocked until a federal judge can make a final ruling.
The Supreme Court could decide to hear Arizona’s case — the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in April to blocked most of the contested parts of the law from taking effect — this term, before the 2012 election.
The laws in the Utah, Indiana, Georgia and South Carolina include a variety of controversial measures, such as making it a crime to harbor an illegal immigrant and allowing police to determine a person’s immigration status in certain situations.
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