http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324020804578149333326961810.html?mod=googlenews_wsjImmigrant and civil-rights groups filed a lawsuit Thursday challenging Arizona's order to deny driver's licenses to young illegal immigrants who qualify for a reprieve from deportation and a work permit under a new Obama administration policy.
The suit alleges that the state treats such immigrants, who are allowed to remain in the U.S., as unlawfully present. It asks that a federal judge declare unconstitutional an executive order issued in August by Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer.
"Arizona's creation of its own immigration classification impermissibly intrudes on the federal government's exclusive authority to regulate immigration," the complaint says.
The suit was filed in U.S. District Court in Phoenix by the American Civil Liberties Union and several other groups on behalf of five immigrants in Arizona who came to the U.S. as children and have qualified for the program.
Ms. Brewer has said that denying driver's licenses is justified because her state's agencies don't grant public benefits to any illegal immigrants.
The governor and two state transportation-department officials were named as defendants in the suit.
The Obama administration in June announced that illegal immigrants brought to the U.S. before the age of 16, who are younger than 31 and have lived in the country at least five years can be considered for a deferral of deportation and work authorization to be renewed every two years.
To qualify, applicants must attend or have graduated from high school, or serve in the military.
Arizona has been at odds with the Obama administration over illegal immigration since the state passed a stringent law in 2010 targeting unlawful residents, parts of which were upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court earlier this year.
About 1.3 million people are immediately eligible for the federal deferred-action program, including 80,000 in Arizona, according to the Migration Policy Institute, an independent think tank in Washington, D.C.
At least 10,000 undocumented people in Arizona have applied for the federal program, called Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals.
While I think Arizona's stance that they are illegal by federal standards is a weak case given that they now qualify for the Deferred Action I don't see why Arizona has to offer them a driver's license as they are not considered citizens
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-arizona-licenses-20121130,0,7863311.storythe complaint alleges that the state mandate violates the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment because it specifically denies driver's licenses to this particular group of work permit recipients, whereas others with work permits are eligible for the benefit.
Other groups? As in citizens? Arizona is being sued because citizens get different perks than non-citizens? If they are referring to visa holders then Arizona is being sued because we treat immigrants who enter the united states legally different than those who enter it illegally?