Issue Fatigue

Obama: No ‘Appetite’ for Immigration Fight

As Arizona preemptively sued over new law.

Although President Obama says that there "may not be an appetite" in Congress to tackle immigration reform this year due to midterm elections and the tough issues already on the Congressional table, he argues that discussions of the issue must move forward. The new immigration law in Arizona, which requires state and local law enforcement to question people about their immigration in status if there is reasonable suspicion about it, has thrust the issue onto the national stage. Although the law has not yet been enacted, various groups are already lining up to sue the state. The National Coalition of Latino Clergy and Christian Leaders is seeking an injunction to prevent the enforcement of the law, while the American Civil Liberties Union and Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund are planning additional lawsuits. Even U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder may get in on the action—he's suggested that the federal government could also challenge the law.