17 Jul 2012
Arizona Dreamin’: Patchwork Laws, Twilight Status, and Federal Enforcement Priorities
"It appears that President Obama’s decision to grant relief to the Dreamers was passed in anticipation of the Court’s decision in Arizona. The various opinions and the context in which the case was decided thus raise important issues regarding what is federal immigration “law” for preemption purposes. Does it include federal enforcement priorities like this Administration’s prosecutorial discretion policy or its more specific policy to grant deferred action to qualified Dreamers? The majority in Arizona recognized that there are twilight statuses where noncitizens enjoy protection from deportation." - Prof. Lauren Gilbert, July 2012.