Over 70 cities and counties have signed onto a legal brief asking the court to allow President Obama’s immigration action to go forward in their areas.
Their argument is common sense: They don’t want a federal judge in Texas to allow the Republican Governor of that state to block actions that could benefit their constituents.
“Continuing to delay implementation of the president’s executive action on immigration hurts our economy and puts families at risk,” New York Mayor Bill de Blasio (D), who spearheaded the effort with Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti (D) as part of Cities United for Immigration Action, said in a statement.
“Cities are where immigrants live, and cities are where the president’s executive action will be successfully implemented,” he continued. “Our cities are united, and we will fight for the immigration reform this nation needs and deserves — whether in the courtroom, in Congress, or in our communities. Make no mistake about it: our voices will be heard.”
DAPA and expanded DACA have remained on hold since February, after Judge Andrew Hanen placed an injunction following a lawsuit from the Republican Governors and Attorneys General from 26 states.
Foley notes that some of the largest cities that have signed onto the brief asking immigration action to go forward are in fact from states that joined in the lawsuit against the federal government:
Houston, the most populous city in Texas, is part of the cities’ and counties’ brief, as is the state capital, Austin. Cities and counties in Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Arizona, Ohio, Indiana, Arkansas, Wisconsin, Florida and Utah also signed on, even though their states are suing over the executive actions.
Since January, 14 states plus Washington, D.C., 30 mayors, a wide roster of police chiefs, and over 230 legal experts and scholars have either signed letters or filed briefs in support of President Obama’s immigration action.
All argue that DAPA and expanded DACA are in fact a boon rather than a burden to their communities, allowing immigrant families to participate more fully in American society and increasing the amount of tax revenue for states.
This latest brief brings the number of states in support of immigration action to 27, compared to the 26 who have joined in the lawsuit to stop it.
