AG ​Luther​ Strange ​a​ttends SCOTUS ​oral arguments for multi-state lawsuit over executive amnesty

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Luther Strange with other AGs

Alabama Attorney General Luther Strange attended the U.S. Supreme Court oral arguments Monday morning in the federal lawsuit against the Obama administration’s executive amnesty order.

The case, known as United States v. Texas, calls into question President Barack Obama’s actions aimed at allowing millions of undocumented immigrants to apply for government programs that could make them eligible for work authorization and associated benefits.

“Today marked a major milestone in the States’ effort to stop the cavalier and unconstitutional actions of the Obama administration in exceeding its legal authority over Congress and the States,” said Attorney General Strange.

Alabama is part of the 26-state coalition led by Texas suing the federal government to block the implementation of President Obama’s unconstitutional executive action legalizing the status of over four million illegal aliens.

“This lawsuit, backed by a majority of U.S. states, is about more than the federal government’s attempt to grant amnesty to millions of illegal aliens,” further observed Attorney General Strange. “This lawsuit is about the President’s illegal attempt to change federal law in order to achieve what he was unable to do when Congress voted down his amnesty legislation.”

Luther Strange at Supreme Court
AG Strange with Texas AG Ken Paxton (speaking) at post Supreme Court oral arguments press conference on Supreme Court steps.

Strange continued, “Through his executive action, the President made dramatic changes that extend legal benefits to people who are openly violating the law, without so much as the notice and opportunity for comment that is required for changes in the federal rule-making process. These actions are unconstitutional and illegal, and will severely impact the States with increased costs for law enforcement, health care and education.”

Based on questions asked during the 90-minute oral argument, the case essentially tests the limits of presidential powers.

“Two lower federal courts have agreed with our position that the President’s executive order harms the States, and in November the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals granted our request for an injunction pending the hearing of this case before the U.S. Supreme Court. I believe the High Court must consider the impact of the majority of States opposing this illegal executive order and I am hopeful it will be ruled unconstitutional,” Strange concluded.

The 26 states suing the Obama administration over its executive amnesty plan include Texas, Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, West Virginia and Wisconsin.

A ruling on the matter is expected from the justices by the end of June.

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