On May 24, 2012, IRLI filed a petition for certiorari with the U.S. Supreme Court, requesting review of a March 24, 2012 opinion by the Third Circuit which upheld the dismissal of Delrio-Mocci v. Connolly Properties Inc., IRLI’s 2007 civil racketeering (RICO) case that seeks sanctions against a New Jersey slumlord for knowingly renting apartments to illegal aliens, which the lawsuit claims constituted conspiracy to commit the immigration crimes of harboring and encouraging and inducing. 8 U.S.C. 1324(a)(1)(A)(iii) and (iv).

Attorneys representing two Frederick County Maryland sheriff's deputies in an important legal battle, upholding the right of local police to detain aliens without official immigration papers and apprehend aliens wanted by ICE for immigration law violations, have filed a brief explaining for the third time why federal District Judge Benson Legg should reaffirm his March 2012 order dismissing all charges against the Sheriff's Office and its dedicated officers.  Access the complete brief below.

On March 16, 2012, IRLI attorney Garrett Roe filed a friend of the court brief with the Federal Appeals Court in Atlanta, supporting Alabama’s Commissioner of Revenue Julie Magee in a lawsuit filed by attorneys representing MALDEF and the SPLC.  The case is Alabama Fair Housing Center v. Magee.  That case was originally filed in the Middle District of Alabama, and challenges the Commissioner’s practice of requiring proof of lawful presence to obtain a registration decal for motor homes in the State under HB 56, Section 30.  Section 30 prohibits Alabama from entering into business transactions with the State.  Access the full brief below.

Kansas’ secretary of state is redefining immigration laws not only in his state, but in Arizona and elsewhere.  Not many politicians still mount deer heads on the walls of their offices, but Kris Kobach isn't afraid of going after big game. Despite the relative modesty of his position- Kobach was elected Kansas secretary of state back in 2010 - he is smack at the center of two of the most controversial issues states are facing today.  Read the full story by Alan Greenblatt.