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Immigration Decision Affecting Utah Under Consideration

jeffries.house.gov

The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals is expected to hear arguments concerning President Obama’s immigration program this Friday. The multistate legal challenge, which includes Utah, could allow several million undocumented immigrants to remain in the U.S. temporarily. John Mejia, legal director with the American Civil Liberties Union of Utah, said his organization believes President Obama is acting in the nation's best interest.

"The ACLU supports President Obama's programs because they promote fairness to immigrant communities, and help us to integrate immigrants into our national fabric," Mejia said.

Utah is among more than two dozen states suing to stop the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA program, and a counterpart program for adults. DACA allows some undocumented immigrants brought to the U.S. as children to get a driver's license and become eligible for employment if they meet certain requirements.

Texas, the lead state in the challenge, claims it would suffer financially because it would have to issue driver's licenses to people who qualify for the immigration programs. Mejia said the programs would help law-abiding immigrants live and work in the open.

"It allows workers to get out of the shadow and join the economy, as sort of on-the-books workers,” Mejia said. “And so we believe that it does increase economic prosperity for the country."

Arizona and Nevada also are among the 26 states involved in the legal challenge.