U.S. District Court Judge Andrew Hanen made federal immigration authorities take back 2,000 three-year work permits for illegal immigrants on Tuesday.
“I expect you to resolve the 2,000; I’m shocked that you haven’t,” Judge Andrew Hanen told Justice Department lawyers at a hearing in Brownsville. “If they’re not resolved by July 31, I’m going to have to figure out what action to take.”
Back in February, Hanen halted President Barack Obama’s executive action on immigration– an action intended to keep almost 5 million immigrants from being deported.
During a March court hearing in Brownsville, an irritated Hanen contemplated sanctions but decided to allow the 26 states, led by Texas, to hammer out remedial steps.
In May, the federal government notified Hanen that Homeland Security had once again told him one thing and done another when it erroneously issued 2,000 more three-year work permits, this time a clear breach of the injunction.
Hanen seemed shocked that the illegally issued permits had not been rescinded, suggesting the delays were deliberate.
“How hard is it to correct your own computer system?” Hanen said. “How hard is it to change a three to a two?”
Apparently too hard for immigration authorities.
