Gov. McCrory joins lawsuit challenging President Obama's immigration action
RALEIGH (WTVD) -- Gov. Pat McCrory says he joined a lawsuit brought by the Texas attorney general challenging President Barack Obama's executive order last month on immigration because the president exceeded his powers laid out in the U.S. Constitution.
McCrory made North Carolina one of the 17 states involved in the lawsuit filed Wednesday in federal court over President Obama's order designed to keep more than four million people living illegally in the United States from being deported.
This umbrella of protection along with the right to work will be extended to parents of U.S. citizens, legal permanent residents who have lived here five years and to hundreds of thousands more young people.
In a news release, Governor McCrory said the president's action will impact services offered by state government in North Carolina.
"The president has exceeded the balance of power provisions clearly laid out in the U.S. Constitution and his unilateral expansion of power must be challenged," Gov. McCrory said. "In North Carolina, the 10th most populous state, the president's actions are likely to put even more financial strain on our state's government services. It's disappointing that the president has shown little regard for states which must shoulder the costs of his actions."
"Instead of working toward solutions, they are causing basically unfounded fears," said Angeline Echeverria, Executive Director of El Pueblo in Raleigh, an advocacy group for Hispanics. "From what we're hearing there's not going to be any entitlements to government sponsored healthcare or things of that nature. It won't actually change people's ability to access those kinds of services."
ABC11 reached out to the governor's office for a better explanation on what government services would be strained under the president's plan. So far, we have not heard back.
Echeverria said she plans to reach out to the governor herself and hopefully work toward positive solutions for the state as a whole, together.
"This lawsuit is about upholding the U.S. Constitution and the rule of law which is why North Carolina must join with its fellow states to stop this expansion of presidential power," said McCrory.
Georgia and South Carolina also are involved in the lawsuit, which is being spearheaded by Texas Attorney General and Gov.-elect Greg Abbott.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
