Federal Judge orders Obama administration to court to explain why it has ignored immigration injunction
Federal Judge Andrew Hanen, who previously issued an injunction against further enforcement of President Obama’s unilateral executive actions on immigration, has issued an order directing the defendants (to include the HHS secretary) appear before him in court in August to attempt to explain to him why they shouldn’t be held in contempt of court.
The Court was first apprised by the Government of the violations of its injunction on May 7, 2015. It admitted that it violated this Court’s injunction on at least 2,000 occasions—violations which have not yet been fixed. This Court has expressed its willingness to believe that these actions were accidental and not done purposefully to violate this Court’s order. Nevertheless, it is shocked and surprised at the cavalier attitude the Government has taken with regard to its “efforts” to rectify this situation.The Government promised this Court on May 7, 2015, that “immediate steps” were being taken to remedy the violations of the injunction. Yet, as of June 23, 2015—some six weeks after making that representation—the situation had not been rectified. With that in mind, the Court hereby sets a hearing for August 19, 2015, at 10:00 a.m. Each individual Defendant must attend and be prepared to show why he or she should not be held in contempt of Court. In addition to the individual Defendants, the Government shall bring all relevant witnesses on this topic as theCourt will not continue this matter to a later date. The Government has conceded that it has directlyviolated this Court’s Order in its May 7, 2015 Advisory, yet, as of today, two months have passed since the Advisory and it has not remediated its own violative behavior. That is unacceptable and,as far as the Government’s attorneys are concerned, completely unprofessional. To be clear, thisCourt expects the Government to be in full compliance with this Court’s injunction. Complianceas to just those aliens living in the Plaintiff States is not full compliance.
Pretty straightforward as well as quite threatening to those who have, to this point, ignored their promise. It appears that Judge Hanen is in no mood to play the usual delaying games this administration so often employs.
They’ve been given until July 31 to remedy the problems and report to the court. If, in fact, they are able to satisfy the court that the action required has been accomplished, the Judge says he will cancel the August appearance. Otherwise, it could be a very hot time in Texas for the defendants.
And, rightfully so.
It is nice to see someone with a little steel in their spine and a penchant for the rule of law take this administration to task.
