On Monday, multiple amicus briefs were filed with the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in the case of State of Texas v. United States. As way of background, a coalition of 26 states, including the State of Texas, sued the U.S. government to prevent the implementation of the President’s Executive Actions on Immigration on the grounds that the executive actions are unconstitutional and would require the states to invest more in law enforcement, health care, and education. As a result of the lawsuit, U.S. District Judge Andrew Hanen entered a preliminary injunction to maintain the status quo and permitted the lawsuit move forward.
In response, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) filed an emergency motion with the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals to lift the preliminary injunction issued. In support of the President’s executive actions, an unprecedented number of civil rights and immigration advocates, including but not limited to 150 civil rights, labor, and immigration advocacy groups (led by the American Immigration Council, National Immigration Law Center, and the Service Employees International Union), have filed amicus briefs defending the deferred action initiatives.
Similarly, 15 states and the District of Columbia, 73 mayors, county officials from 27 states, 181 members of Congress, and 109 law professors and community leaders also submitted briefs to the Court. These briefs addressed the various benefits that many believe would come to fruition if the government is allowed to successfully expand the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals and Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Resident programs.
