The states involved in the lawsuit against President Obama regarding his executive action to grant amnesty and work permits to millions of illegal aliens argued in court that the action will impose "billions of dollars in costs", including more than $130 for each Texas driver's license issued.
More than 1,100 pages of documents submitted by the 25 states suing to stop the amnesty detail the costs in depth and include sworn affidavits from state officials, federal immigration officers and others arguing that the amnesty will increase illegal immigration, leaving the states with even bigger burdens.
Wisconsin said the illegal aliens granted amnesty would be eligible to apply for concealed weapons permits at a cost to state taxpayers. Indiana said it will end up paying unemployment benefits to the illegal aliens. And in Texas, officials said they'll have to hire more than 100 new employees to process hundreds of thousands of driver's license applications, with state taxpayers shelling out more than $130 per applicant.
"The states will lose money," Texas, which is leading the lawsuit, told Judge Andrew Hanen in legal papers.
The suit is predicated on two key factors: first, whether the states that have joined the lawsuit can show they or their residents stand to suffer from the president's policies; and second, whether President Obama's actions go beyond case-by-case discretion and tread on Congress' power to write laws and set policy.
Oral arguments in the case are set to start on Thursday, January 15.
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