U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell listened to arguments today in a lawsuit lodged by Maricopa County, Arizona Sheriff Joe Arpaio that challenges the constitutionality of President Obama’s executive amnesty. The judge questioned whether Arpaio had legal standing to sue, and said she would rule on the matter soon.
The lawsuit asserts the Administration's policy will induce more aliens to enter the country illegally and commit crimes. The court filing states, "Obama’s new amnesty program will greatly increase the burden and disruption of the sheriff’s duties." Arpaio said that say more than 35 percent of illegal aliens in Maricopa County jails in 2014 were repeat offenders, which demonstrates that the Administration is not deporting criminal aliens.
"President Obama and others recite that the immigration system of the United States is broken," the lawsuit said. "It is unmistakable that the only thing that is broken about the nation's immigration laws is that the defendants are determined to break those laws."
Judge Howell asked Arpaio’s attorney, Larry Klayman, several question about legal standing, and said “you’ve got a big problem with standing” as a third party in a matter between Congress and the Administration. The judge also suggested the harm Arpaio claims results from the actions of illegal aliens, not directly from government policy.
A Justice Department attorney called for dismissal of the case, saying it was a “political dispute.”
Read more from the Associated Press and CBS News.
