Atlanta and dozens of other cities are preparing to file court papers in defense of President Barack Obama’s executive actions on immigration.
The cities are siding with the Obama administration against a lawsuit filed by Georgia and 25 other states. The states are asking a federal judge in Texas to halt the government’s efforts to spare up to 5 million immigrants from deportation. They argue Obama’s unilateral actions are unconstitutional.
New York Mayor Bill de Blasio and Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti are leading the cities’ efforts to come to the Obama administration’s defense along with the National League of Cities and the U.S. Conference of Mayors.
“Our immigration system is broken and status quo is no longer acceptable, which is why I stand behind president Obama’s decision to provide administrative relief to four million children and adults who are already an integral part of our communities,” Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed said in a prepared statement Monday. “By inviting these individuals to come out of the shadows and relieving their fear of deportation and providing work authorization, we will increase our local tax revenue, keep families together, and ultimately create a stronger Atlanta.”
Also this month, Nevada and Tennessee joined the states in suing to stop the president’s plans.
“This lawsuit is not about immigration,” the states’ complaint says. “It is about the rule of law, presidential power, and the structural limits of the U.S. Constitution.”
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