DREAMERS/IMMIGRATION/LEGAL/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “A Brooklyn federal judge criticized President Donald Trump’s comments about Latino immigrants as ‘vicious’ and ‘extremely volatile’ during court arguments Tuesday over whether to stop the Trump administration from rescinding protections for undocumented immigrants who entered the U.S. as children…
The plaintiffs who sued the Trump administration, including 16 states, have argued the decision to terminate the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program was driven by animus toward Latinos, which could violate equal protection under the U.S. Constitution. They are seeking an injunction that would keep DACA in place.
In their brief, the plaintiffs cited several anti-Latino statements made by Mr. Trump, such as his remarks about Mexicans when his presidential campaign was announced.
Stephen Pezzi, a lawyer for the Justice Department, said a win for the plaintiffs on the equal protection argument could prevent agencies under the Trump administration from imposing any future policy with a disproportionate impact on Latinos.
Mr. Pezzi said the administration rescinded DACA because of the litigation threat from conservative states and the determination that the program was illegal.
A spokeswoman for the White House didn’t immediately respond to a request to comment.”
-Nicole Hong, “Federal Judge in Brooklyn Criticizes Trump and Sessions in DACA Hearing,” The Wall Street Journal online, Jan. 30, 2018 07:26pm