Federal judge tosses Crazy Uncle Joe Arpaio’s frivolous lawsuit

A federal judge gave the Obama administration an early Christmas present by tossing out a challenge to President Obama’s immigration executive actions filed by desperate-for-attention Crazy Uncle Joe Arpaio. “No soup for you!”

The Hill reports, Judge rejects challenge to Obama’s executive action on immigration :

U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell warned in an opinion (.pdf) that while Arpaio’s lawsuit brings up important issues, the sheriff couldn’t file the suit because he hasn’t suffered direct harm from Obama’s executive actions.

“The role of the Judiciary is to resolve cases and controversies properly brought by parties with a concrete and particularized injury— not to engage in policymaking better left to the political branches,” Howell said.

“The plaintiff’s case raises important questions regarding the impact of illegal immigration on this Nation, but the questions amount to generalized grievances which are not proper for the Judiciary to address.”

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“Judge Howell’s decision today confirms what the Department of Justice and scholars throughout the country have been saying all along: the President’s executive actions on immigration are lawful,” White House spokesman Eric Schultz said in a statement. “The Supreme Court and Congress have made clear that federal officials can set priorities in enforcing our immigration laws, and the actions announced by the President are consistent with those taken by administrations of both parties for the last half century. The court correctly dismissed Sheriff Arpaio’s lawsuit.”

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Howell’s decision went on to note that Arpaio has no authority to enforce national immigration laws — he’s a local sheriff — and that his alleged harm is “largely speculative.” Arpaio argued that the president’s actions could create a “magnet” that draws undocumented immigrants into his county, but Howell dismissed that claim because the actions don’t apply to new immigrants.

Of course, Crazy Uncle Joe Arpaio and his ethically challenged lawyer say they will appeal.