Arizona and National Immigration Crisis: Lawsuits

Reported Decisions:

• Ortega Melendres v. Arpaio, 598 F. Supp. 2d 1025 (D. Ariz. 2009)
• Ortega-Melendres v. Arpaio, 836 F. Supp. 2d 959 (D. Ariz. 2011)

Citation to Opinion: 695 F.3d 990 (9th Cir. 2012). Full text below.

On Nov. 29, 2012, a coalition of civil rights organizations filed a class action lawsuit challenging Arizona's policy of denying driver's licenses to immigrant youth granted work permits though President Obama's deferred action program (Note: Several of the court documents are sealed.). For more information, read:

Arizona passed Proposition 200 on Nov. 2, 2004, which required voters to provide proof of citizenship when registering to vote or casting a ballot. The Inter Tribal Council of Arizona sued the state, arguing that Prop. 200 violated the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and is unconstitutional under the Fourteenth and Twenty-fourth Amendments, and is inconsistent with the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (NVRA). After the district court denied a preliminary injunction, the plaintiffs appealed to the 9th Circuit. 

The U.S. Supreme Court granted cert on Oct. 15, 2012 (No. 12-71).

U.S. District Court, District of Arizona (Phoenix Division), Case #: 2:12-cv-00981