Conservative columnist Robert Robb of the Arizona Republic criticized Governor Jan Brewer for denying drivers’ licenses to the DREAM Act kids–undocumented youth brought to this country as children. Not only does Robb say that the governor is breaking state law, but he also declares that she is just wrong on the issue.

Last August, DREAM Act kids became eligible to apply for deferred deportations due to an executive action by President Obama. On that same day, Brewer issued her own executive order forbidding the state of Arizona to issue drivers’ licenses to them.





Almost seven months later, after much legal wrangling, Robb wrote in his Sunday column that:

“I really wish advocates of state driver licenses for Dreamers would go about it differently.”

His advice for DREAMers? Forget about trying to get a new law passed by the Arizona state legislature; legislators won’t defy Brewer. Forget about pursuing a lawsuit through the federal courts, trying to get Brewer’s action declared invalid due to federal law; there isn’t a federal statute that covers the situation.

What’s left? Robb says sue Brewer through the state courts because she is breaking state law.

There are two Arizona statutes that do cover the situation. The first stipulates that licenses be given to those who prove that their “presence in the United States is authorized under federal law.” But it’s the second state statute that provides the kicker. It says that lawful presence is shown by a federal “employment authorization document”–which DREAMers can now get from the U.S. government.

When a prominent conservative writer in Phoenix begins his argument with, “I think, however, that Brewer is plainly wrong about state law”–in opposition to the stance of both the governor and the state legislature–can change be far behind?

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