Mediaboss Marketing

Virginia Attorney General Mark R. Herring is again wading into the national debate over illegal immigration by backing President Obamas executive actions.

Herring joined attorneys general for 14 other states and the District of Columbia in filing a brief with a federal appeals court Monday that contends the presidents November orders are both legal and beneficial.

While were waiting on Congress to enact long overdue comprehensive immigration reform, the President has offered lawful, reasonable steps that will boost our economy, keep families intact, and promote public safety, Herring (D) said in a statement.

The presidents plan, which would defer the deportations of as many as 5 million undocumented immigrants, has been blocked by a U.S. district judge in Texas while a lawsuit filed against it by 26 states goes forward. The brief filed Monday with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit supports the administrations appeal of the judges decision. Rather than harming states, as opponents contend, the program will help them by bringing many immigrants into the legal economy, supporters say.

Herrings endorsement revives a clash in Virginia over immigration policy that began in April 2014, when the attorney general declared that some illegal immigrants can qualify for in-state college tuition. Republican lawmakers tried unsuccessfully in January to block those students from receiving the tuition discount in the legislature. Herring has given Virginia law enforcement officials cover to defy immigration officials by releasing suspected undocumented immigrants from custody.

Republicans have said that Herring is abusing his office to champion liberal causes in preparation for a 2017 gubernatorial campaign. The attorney general has countered that he is merely making the legal findings his job requires.

Herring has also found Virginias ban on same-sex marriage unconstitutional, and last month he filed a brief encouraging the Supreme Court to draw the same conclusion.

Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D) praised Herring in a statement Monday, as did U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D). Until Congress acts, Warner said, I applaud Attorney General Mark Herring for moving to defend the protections that will be extended to undocumented immigrants in Virginia.

The effort was led by Washington state. Other states joining the brief included California, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont.

Rachel Weiner covers local politics for The Washington Post.

More here:
Mark Herring backs President Obamas immigration policy