Immigration

Obama administration appeals 5th Circuit Court of Appeals immigration ruling to SCOTUS

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ImmigrantsThe Obama administration met the short deadline to file an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court from the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals decision regarding President Obama’s immigration executive orders for DACA and DAPA eligible immigrants. The purpose of quickly filing this appeal is to get the case heard by the Court and decided before the end of June 2016 to prevent any further delay. Of course, any one of the 26 “Red State” plaintiff’s that brought this case can request a delay for additional time to respond to the appeal, negating the administration’s timely filing.

Any delay could kick this case into the Court’s next term beginning in October 2016. The appeal would not be decided until after a new president takes office in January 2017. I fully expect the Red State respondents to play this delay gambit.

Lyle Denniston at SCOTUSblog reports, U.S. appeals on immigration policy :

One year after President Barack Obama took historic steps to overhaul immigration policy, his lawyers on Friday appealed (.pdf) to the Supreme Court to uphold his plan and let it go into effect.  It is currently stalled by lower court rulings finding that the president probably overstepped his powers in bypassing Congress to put off deportation for nearly five million undocumented immigrants.

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Pant-wetters in Congress give in to their fear and bigotry, vote for punitive bill against refugees from war

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monstersToday is not one of America’s finest hours.

Pant-wetters in Congress afraid of  monsters under the bed gave into their fear and bigotry and voted for a bill that would essentially close America’s door to resettlement of refugees fleeing war and terrorism. The bill has an uncertain future in the Senate, and President Obama has promised to veto it.

Every Tea-Publican voted for it, and sadly so did 47 Democrats — including the usual suspect Kyrsten Sinema — who should turn in their membership cards as a member of a humane country.  Here is the roll call for the vote. This is not who we are as Americans.

The Washington Post reports, House votes to tighten flow of refugees over Obama’s objections:

The House on Thursday overwhelmingly passed legislation aimed at tightening controls on refugees from Syria and Iraq, in what Republican leaders say is a swift and strong response to last week’s terror attacks in Paris.

The vote was 289 to 137.

statue_libertyThe bill’s fate, however, is uncertain after President Obama delivered a veto threat Wednesday and key senators said they are more concerned about security vulnerabilities other than the refugee program.

The vote gives House Republicans some leverage because Thursday’s tally is enough to override a veto with more than two-thirds of those voting supporting the bill, including 47 Democrats. Attention now turns to what the Senate does with the legislation, a decision that likely won’t come until after Thanksgiving.

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They all must look alike to Gov. Ducey

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Crossposted at DemocraticDiva.com STATEMENT FROM GOVERNOR DOUG DUCEY PHOENIX – “Given the horrifying events in Paris last week, I am calling for an immediate halt in the placement of any new refugees in Arizona. As governor, I am invoking our state’s right under 8 USC, Section 1522 (a), to receive immediate consultation by federal authorities … Read more

Donald Trump is the perfect fit for the Mass Deportation Party

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Cartoon_18.14Donald Trump, no longer enjoying a commanding lead over his competitors (Dr. Ben “The Blade” Carson leads or is tied with Trump in some recent polls), has decided to go back to the well of nativist and racist anti-immigrant hatred once again that rocketed him to the top of the polls this summer.

A good showman always gives the audience what they came to see, and today’s GOP is the modern-day equivalent of the anti-immigrant Know-Nothing Party of the mid-19th Century. They are the Mass Deportation Party.

“The Donald” did not disappoint them at the FOX Business Network/WSJ debate this week. Trump doubled-down on his call to round up the estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants in the U.S. and to deport them all ASAP.

Trump was later asked how he intended to accomplish this herculean feat. Donald Trump calls for a ‘deportation force’ to remove undocumented immigrants:

Trump was initially asked about his immigration plan Wednesday morning and then pressed by MSNBC’s Mika Brzezinski on whether the plan is truly practical.

“Okay, conceptually, I understand what you’re saying and what you’re describing. But still tell me the how. Are you going to have a massive deportation force?” Brzezinski asked.

Trump responded affirmatively: “You’re going to have a deportation force, and you’re going to do it humanely, and you’re going to bring the country — and, frankly, the people, because you have some excellent, wonderful people, some fantastic people that have been here for a long period of time.”

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Trump added that he will also build “a real wall” along the U.S.-Mexico border to keep undocumented immigrants from entering the country in the future.

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U.S. to appeal 5th Circuit Court of Appeals immigration executive orders decision to SCOTUS

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Back in July the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals hearD oral argument in Obama immigration executive orders appeals. I posted at the time:

ImmigrantsMost Court observers believe this three judge panel of the 5th Circuit, the most conservative activist court of the appellate courts, will side with the states against the Obama administration. The Hill reported prior to oral argument, Obama’s immigration orders face dim outlook at federal court .

The losing side will seek en banc review by the full Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals and/or appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court — which means the immigration executive orders would be heard by the U.S. Supreme Court in the middle of a presidential election year, emphasizing the GOP’s anti-immigration stance as the Mass Deportation Party with Latino voters.

As anticipated, this panel of the 5th Circuit ruled 2-1 against the Obama administration on Monday, after an extraordinary delay for an expedited case. Appeals Court Deals Blow to Obama’s Immigration Plans:

A federal appeals court said Monday that President Obama could not move forward with his plans to overhaul immigration rules by providing up to five million people with work permits and protection from deportation.
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A three-judge panel of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, in New Orleans, ruled 2 to 1 against an appeal by the Obama administration, saying a lawsuit brought by 26 states to block Mr. Obama’s actions was likely to succeed at trial.

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