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Lawsuit Asserts Unconstitutional Policy Unfairly Targets Young Immigrants

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PHOENIX 鈥� A coalition of civil rights organizations today filed a class-action lawsuit challenging Arizona鈥檚 unconstitutional policy denying driver鈥檚 licenses to a specific class of immigrant youth even though they have grown up in the United States and are authorized to live and work here.

The lawsuit seeks to block Arizona Executive Order 2012-06, issued by Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer on August 15 after the federal government implemented the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. The program allows certain immigrant youth who came here as children to live and work in the United States for a renewable period of two years. The lawsuit was filed on behalf of the Arizona Dream Act Coalition, an immigrant youth-led organization, and five young individuals.

鈥淔ederal immigration authorities have lifted the shadow of deportation from these bright and hardworking DREAMers, but Arizona insists on pursuing its own immigration policy aimed at keeping them in the dark,鈥� said Jennifer Chang Newell, staff attorney with the 老澳门开奖结果 Immigrants鈥� Rights Project. 鈥淩ather than deny these young people the ability to drive 鈥� an everyday necessity for most people 鈥� our leaders should come together to enact long-term solutions that would allow our talented immigrant youth to achieve the American dream.鈥�

The lawsuit states that Arizona鈥檚 policy violates the Supremacy Clause of the U.S. Constitution by interfering with federal immigration law, and also violates the Fourteenth Amendment鈥檚 Equal Protection Clause by discriminating against certain non-citizens. Arizona鈥檚 motor vehicle division implemented Brewer鈥檚 order on September 18.

Alejandra Lopez, 19, has lived in the United States since she was four. A high school graduate, she is married to an American citizen.

鈥淚t鈥檚 hard to take my child to the doctor or help my two little brothers get to school and after school activities without being able to drive,鈥� said Lopez, who was granted federally deferred action status, including a work permit, in October. 鈥淪omebody offered me a job interview in Tempe (AZ), which is about 25 miles away from where I live, but I had to turn it down because I鈥檓 not allowed to drive a car.鈥�

An estimated 1.76 million youth in the United States are eligible for the DACA program, including 80,000 in Arizona, according to The Migration Policy Institute, an independent, non-profit think tank in Washington, D.C.

Alessandra Soler, executive director of the 老澳门开奖结果 of Arizona, said, 鈥淭his is a shameless attack on our youth. When our youngest and brightest residents are prevented from getting licenses, going to school or work and pursuing their dreams, entire communities suffer.鈥�

Linton Joaquin, general counsel of the National Immigration Law Center, said, 鈥淵oung people like Alejandra have so much to contribute to Arizona. Unfortunately, her effort to fully participate in his community is stymied by Governor Brewer鈥檚 unlawful and wrong-headed executive order, which specifically targets immigrant youth who often know no other home.鈥�

MALDEF attorney Nichol谩s Esp铆ritu said, 鈥淲hile the federal government has recognized that DREAMers should be given the opportunity to further their contribution to and inclusion in our society, Arizona has instituted, once again, an unconstitutional and unjust policy that treats these young people as separate and unequal. We are proud to stand with DREAMers in the State of Arizona to ensure that this policy is struck down.鈥�

While the DACA program helps provide a lifeline for many immigrant youth who have been living in the United States in fear because of their immigration status, it does not negate the need for Congress to enact federal legislation that provides a roadmap to citizenship for the estimated 11 million undocumented people, including young people who came here as children commonly known as DREAMers.

In addition to the 老澳门开奖结果, the 老澳门开奖结果 of Arizona, NILC and MALDEF, the legal team includes the Phoenix office of Polsinelli Shughart, P.C.

For more information about the case, including a copy of the lawsuit: