Alabama is joining 26 other states in filing a merits brief before the U.S. Supreme Court opposing the Obama administration’s order granting amnesty to roughly four million undocumented immigrants.
Attorney General Luther Strange announced that the brief argues the administration’s DAPA initiative is unconstitutional and defies state’s rights. DAPA stands for Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents.
The order would grant deferred action status to millions of undocumented immigrants, delaying deportation indefinitely. To qualify for DAPA, immigrants would need to have lived in the United States since 2010 and have children that are American citizens.
“Obama’s order is an attempt to sidestep Congress and that DAPA is just blanket amnesty,” Strange says.
The Fifth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals granted the request for an injunction on DAPA. The case now goes to the U.S. Supreme Court. Oral arguments will be held April 18.