Attorney General Laxalt Comments on the US Supreme Court Ruling as a Victory in the Battle for the Rule of Law: President Obama’s Immigration Action Remains Blocked


June 23, 2016

Carson City, NV – Today, Nevada Attorney General Adam Laxalt hailed the US Supreme Court’s decision on President Obama’s executive action on immigration as a victory for the balance of power between the president and Congress and the rule of law:

    “Today’s decision is yet another example of halting the president’s attempt to dictate in areas where the Constitution does not allow him to, and puts this decision back into its rightful place of Congress,” said Laxalt. “The president has consistently acted outside of his constitutional authority, be it with regard to healthcare, education, environmental policy, land use regulation, recess appointments or labor rules. Hopefully this decision will yet again signal to this president that he cannot act unilaterally within our constitutional system simply because Congress in his view, ‘fails to act."

      In January 2015, Nevada joined a majority coalition of 26 states in a legal action challenging the president’s unilateral executive action on immigration. In February 2015, U.S. District Judge Hanen issued a preliminary injunction halting the action. Later that month, AG Laxalt represented the states by testifying about why the states challenged the executive action and the federal district court’s issuance of an injunction. To view this testimony, click here. In November, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit affirmed the district court’s decision upholding the states’ position.

        In addition to Nevada, other states that joined the suit including: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, West Virginia and Wisconsin.

          The Supreme Court's ruling is attached.

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