WASHINGTON, January 24 (Sputnik) — Mayors of over 30 American cities, including Bill de Blasio of New York and Eric Garcetti of Los Angeles intend to submit an amicus brief in the lawsuit filed by 24 states challenging US President Barack Obama’s executive action on immigration, to show support of the presidential plan, New York City Mayor’s Office said in a statement Friday.
“The two mayors [de Blasio and Garcetti] led the effort to organize more than 30 cities, the National League of Cities, and the U.S. Conference of Mayors in filing a brief arguing that the public interest across the country is served clearly and overwhelmingly by implementing immigration reform by executive action,” the statement said.
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The brief argues that changes to the federal government’s immigration policies are “desperately needed,” and blocking executive action will delay important reforms, according to the press release.
New York City Mayor’s Office pointed that 7.5 million immigrants live in the US cities represented by the amici mayors.
“Our mission is urgent. Delaying implementation of the President’s [Obama] executive action will further hurt our families, negatively impact our economies, and create unnecessary insecurity in our communities,” New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said.
The decision to file the brief is the result of December immigration summit hosted by New York City mayor and efforts of the Cities United for Immigration Action coalition, according to the statement.
In December, 25 mostly Republican US states led by Texas filed a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the Obama administration’s November 20 executive action on immigration. The lawsuit doubted the legality of president’s intention to grant up to 5 million illegal immigrants the right to stay in the United States under certain conditions and obtain work permits.
