Feds consider suing Indiana over change to state immigration law

The U.S. Justice Department is considering a legal challenge to a law passed in Indiana that changed state immigration policy.

Immigration attorney Angela Adams, who is a member of an organization that encourages immigration at a federal level, weighed in on the new Indiana law Thursday.

"It has gone beyond what the federal government has allowed states to do. In this case, Indiana even went beyond what the federal government is permitted to do," said Adams.

An injunction is in place after the ACLU and other organizations and individuals sued the state over the new law. The injunction prevents two key components of the law from going into effect. One component would authorize warrantless arrests of illegal immigrants in certain circumstances and the other would make it a crime to present or accept an identification card used by many immigrants. The injunction, however, is only temporary. There is an effort to pursue a permanent injunction.

A spokesman with Washington, D.C.-based Federation for American Immigration said the new Indiana law is a step in the right direction.

"It makes it difficult to live, work, travel, access benefits, get in-state tuition and, or drivers' licenses for illegal aliens so that means there will be less incentive for those coming," said Bob Dane, a Federation for American Immigration Reform spokesman.

Still, federal attorneys have sued states for passing similar laws claiming they conflict with federal immigration law and policy.

In the meantime, the debate continues.

"This administration needs to get serious about securing the border, applying meaningful interior enforcement," said Dane.

"Having 50 different types of laws is not going to fix the immigration system that's broken. It's only going to make it worse," said Adams.

A spokesperson with the Indiana Attorney General's Office said they will continue to defend the new Indiana law in court.

He also said Indiana legislator passed the law because of "frustration over the federal government`s failure to enforce its own federal immigration laws."