Texas is part of a lawsuitfiled by 17 states over President Obama's executive action on immigration. The lawsuit was filed Wednesday afternoon in the Federal District Court in Texas and names the heads of immigration enforcement agencies as defendants.
"Our immigration system is broken and it must be fixed," Texas Attorney General Greg Abbottsaid at a press conference announcing the suit, but he said it can only be fixed by Congress and "not by presidential fiat."
The multi-state coalition lawsuit, which includes mostly southern and midwestern states, is the 31st court challenge that Abbott has filed against the Democratic administration.
On Nov. 20, President Obama announced executive actionthat could shield up to 5 million undocumented immigrants who have lived in the United States for at least 5 years.
Obama's executive action did not extend federal benefits to illegal immigrants, but would prevent the deportation of those who applied for work papers and meet the criteria.
