WASHINGTON – United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) law enforcement officers today filed a lawsuit against the Obama Administration’s immigration directive that forces agents to stop enforcing immigration laws pertaining to certain immigrants who are in the country illegally. 

Nine officers filed a lawsuit against Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano in U.S. District Court to challenge the decision of the agency. 

Senators John Boozman (R-AR) and David Vitter (R-LA) support the complaint that stems from the June announcement by Napolitano. 

“The Administration’s directive is a clear violation of the law, circumventing the authority of Congress for the sake of political posturing while weakening our system of checks and balances. Not only did President Obama bypass Congress in approving this policy but Secretary Napolitano has failed to adequately provide guidance and direction to agents in the field as to how they are to comply with this misguided order. We must hold those who are breaking the law accountable and allow law enforcement the ability to do their job. Instead, this is a backdoor path to amnesty. We are a nation of laws but the President is stepping beyond his authority by determining what laws must be enforced. Americans deserve immigration reform, secure borders and improved workplace verification to hold employers accountable for hiring illegal workers. This requires Congressional approval and I am committed to formulating comprehensive immigration reform without rewarding lawbreakers,” Boozman said.

“These agents’ mission is to keep our borders secure, but the head of their agency is directing them otherwise, telling them to undermine their missions and contradict immigration law. I’m fully supportive of their efforts today. They just want to do their job, keeping our borders secure. It’s not necessary to rewrite the law on this one; it’s a matter of the administration upholding the current immigration laws,” Vitter said.

On June 15, 2012, the White House announced that effective immediately, certain young people who were brought to the United States as young children, who demonstrate that they meet certain criteria will be eligible to receive deferred action for a period of two years, subject to renewal, and will be eligible to apply for work authorization. The Administration did not consult with Congress before unilaterally making this major change to America’s immigration policy.