House Republicans are finally getting their day in court to make the case against President Obama’s 2014 executive actions on immigration.
The Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in United States v. Texas on Monday, a case that challenges the constitutionality of Obama's Deferred Action for Parents of Americans program.
While lawmakers routinely file amicus briefs in cases before the high court, this is the first instance in which the House authorized taking sides in the case. The House did that on March 17 by passing a resolution in a partly-line 234-186 vote.
Attorney Paul Clement will represent the House pro bono in the case, which originated in Texas. He'll have 15 minutes to make the House's arguments. While Clement will represent the House, Democrats aren't on board and voted against the resolution.
Twenty-five states joined Texas in suing the government to stop DAPA’s implementation, which has been put on hold since the states won in lower courts.
Speaker of the House Paul Ryan has argued that Obama’s executive actions on immigration usurp Congress’ authority to make laws.
"If we're going to maintain the principle of government by consent of the governed, then the legislative branch needs to be writing the laws, not the executive branch, and certainly not a branch of unelected, unaccountable bureaucrats," Ryan during a floor speech in March. "As speaker, I believe the authority of my office must be dedicated to protecting the authority of this body. So I am prepared to make our case."
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