WASHINGTON (AP) — An Arizona sheriff is trying to halt President Barack Obama’s plans to spare nearly 5 million immigrants from deportation.
A lawyer for Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio (ahr-PEYE’-oh) will try Monday to convince a federal court judge nominated by Obama that the immigration system is not really broken. It’s the first courtroom battle for the program announced by Obama last month. It prioritizes removal of immigrants who threaten national security or public safety.
Arpaio sees the program as a way for more immigrants to enter the country illegally and commit crimes, burdening law enforcement. Arpaio says more than 35 percent of immigrants living illegally in his county who would up in jail in 2014 were repeat offenders.
The Obama administration says Arpaio’s position is speculative and unsubstantiated.
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