The president’s plan to allow millions of undocumented immigrants in the U.S.to apply for programs that could allow them to extend their stay has received notable partisan backlash. The order was challenged in federal court by a coalition of 26 states, claiming the president’s actions were unconstitutional.
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In order to have such standing, a state has to show that it would be injured in a concrete way if the president’s action were to be carried out. These young people, known as DREAMers, were spared if they had served in the military, graduated from high school, or are now in school. Indeed, the justices broadened the scope of the case, asking the two sides to address an additional, and fundamental question: whether the president’s action violates the Constitution’s requirement that the president “shall take care that the laws be faithfully executed”.
The U.S. Supreme Court will take on a hot-button issue during a presidential election year.
The Obama administration’s enforcement actions have focused on criminals, people who are threats to national security or public safety, and people who have recently entered the country.
Experts say no matter which way the Supreme Court decides, it will not impact benefits immigrants are getting under current programs. But a lawsuit filed by Texas and 25 other states challenging the constitutionality of Obama’s actions has left the orders-and millions of undocumented immigrants, mostly fromMexico and Central America-in legal limbo, with the clock ticking down to the end of Obama’s presidency.
Marcela said she’s waited for years, stuck living in the shadows. “We are confident that the policies will be upheld as lawful”, White House assistant press secretary Brandi Hoffine told reporters, according to the Washington Post. In other words, Texas preferred that the Court reject hearing the case until a full trial on the merits could be held in the lower courts.
Amidst the media obsession with Donald Trump, the CBS Evening News and NBC Nightly News found 23 and 19 seconds, respectively, to allude to this news from the Supreme Court in separate news briefs.
Facing insurmountable opposition in the Republican-controlled Congress, Obama has repeatedly resorted to the issuance of presidential executive orders to take actions on critical issues such as healthcare reform, immigration, and gun control.
He said the program will discourage illegal hiring that depresses wages for American workers.
Opponents of DAPA also say allowing illegal immigrants to work would keep wages low. A Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals out of New Orleans heard the case in July.
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“Potentially as many as 80,000 people could be affected – 80,000 people who would suddenly compete for jobs with legal immigrants and US citizens, and they would also most likely qualify for social services and welfare benefits”, Vaughan said.
