A federal judge seems skeptical of a suit by Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio that seeks to halt the president’s plan to spare nearly 5 million people from deportation.
U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell heard arguments on the sheriff’s claims that President Obama’s executive action will let more illegal immigrants enter the country and commit crimes, thereby burdening law enforcement.
The judge repeatedly questioned Arpaio’s legal standing to challenge the president’s action, telling the sheriff’s attorney that Congress is in a better position to question the president’s authority than a federal court.
A lawyer for the Obama administration called the case a "political dispute" that should be dismissed.
Judge Howell said she would issue a ruling soon.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.