Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall, along with Kansas Attorney General, took a significant action on Thursday by co-leading motions to intervene in two lawsuits involving the Biden administration and immigrants’ rights groups, including the ACLU. These lawsuits are East Bay Sanctuary Covenant v. Biden and M.A. v. Mayorkas. Attorney General Marshall garnered support from attorneys general in Georgia, Louisiana, and West Virginia.
A coalition of attorneys general has decided to intervene in response to the Biden administration’s decision to engage in settlement negotiations instead of defending a rule that imposes certain restrictions on illegal immigration. Attorney General Marshall strongly believes that the Biden administration may not adequately represent the interests of the States when it comes to illegal immigration.
“As the number of illegal immigrants continues to rise, there are numerous challenges in addressing this crisis,” Attorney General Marshall expressed. “Communities in different states are experiencing the effects of this situation, and our priority is to guarantee that the administration is fully dedicated to safeguarding the interests of all Americans. The decision to engage in settlement discussions with advocacy groups has raised concerns about the potential impact on border security in the future. Our intervention aims to tackle these concerns and establish a comprehensive approach.”
The lawsuits being discussed pertain to challenges made by immigrant rights groups against a rule implemented by the Biden administration. This rule grants the U.S. Department of Homeland Security the authority to reject specific asylum seekers. Initially, the Biden administration claimed that the rule was lawful and that the plaintiffs lacked standing to challenge it. However, to the surprise of many, the administration later revealed its intention to engage in settlement negotiations with the plaintiffs in both cases.
The coalition of attorneys general shares the concerns expressed by Judge VanDyke, a 9th Circuit judge on East Bay Covenant, who cautioned that the administration’s actions may give the impression that they are deliberately avoiding a conclusive victory that would likely occur later this year.
The motion to intervene raised concerns about how the Biden administration’s actions towards the intervenor states’ immigration interests were perceived as hostile. It argued that the current illegal immigration situation poses significant challenges for the United States, and the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Justice, responsible for addressing it, have faced criticism for what some consider an insufficient response.
