AP
March 25, 2015
New
Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, who has repeatedly refused to outline his
positions on the nation's immigration system, has quietly signed onto an
amicus brief opposing
President Obama's executive action on immigration.
The
brief filed Monday by New Jersey, Texas, Louisiana and South Dakota
urges an appeals court to uphold a preliminary injunction blocking
action that could spare millions
of people who are in the U.S. illegally from deportation.
The states involved say moving forward with the programs would cause them "irreparable injuries."
"The
question presented is whether the President can unilaterally legalize
the presence of millions of people and unilaterally give them myriad
legal benefits, including
work permits, Medicare, Social Security and tax credits," they wrote.
"Washington's
attempt to turn this into a policy debate only underscores the dearth
of legal arguments to support Defendants' unilateral efforts to hand out
government
benefits in violation of federal law," the brief read.
Christie,
who is weighing a run for president, has been generally critical of
President Barack Obama's immigration policies, but has refused to answer
questions about
how he would approach the issue. His office did not publicize the
brief. A spokesman confirmed New Jersey had signed on, but declined to
comment Wednesday.
Twenty-six
states, led by Texas, joined to challenge Obama's November 2014 actions
as unconstitutional, arguing the policies would force them to invest
more in law enforcement,
health care and education.
Sen.
Robert Menendez, D-N.J., who has pushed for comprehensive immigration
reform, defended the legality of Obama's actions and pointed to the
residents who would benefit
from them.
"Let's
not forget that an estimated 204,000 people in New Jersey will be able
to come out of the shadows and contribute to the community and the
economy thanks to the
President's executive actions," he said in a statement. "These are moms
and dads — good people, hard-working people — who will register with
the government, pass a background check, get a work permit, pay taxes
and no longer fear deportation."
The
New Jersey Alliance for Immigrant Justice also criticized the state's
move, saying, "Governor Christie's support of this misguided lawsuit is
further proof his political
aspirations trump the needs and will of the people of New Jersey."
For more information, go to: www.beverlyhillsimmigrationlaw.com
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