Former Gov. Jan Brewer’s losing, years-long battle to block Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients in Arizona from being able to apply for a driver’s license is going to cost the state’s taxpayers a shit ton of money, and it’s all her fault. “In an order Monday,” the Arizona Daily Star reports, “U.S. District Court Judge David Campbell said those who challenged the former governor’s executive order are entitled to almost $1.9 million in legal fees. And Campbell agreed they are owed more than $81,000 in other costs.”
Brewer, in her trademark asshole way, issued an executive order blocking DACA recipients from licenses on the very day of DACA’s implementation back in 2012, kicking off a legal battle that stretched out for years. On the day in 2014 that the courts said the Arizona Department of Transportation could finally accept applications from DACA recipients, they very happily lined up at dawn.
Only Nebraska joined Arizona in trying to block young immigrants from being able to legally drive, a policy that the former finally overturned in 2015. Noted constitutional scholar Brewer tried to pin her opposition to DACA on state law, but “in fact, appellate Judge Harry Pregerson wrote that Brewer’s order was motivated by ‘a dogged animus’ against DACA recipients.” Recall “papers, please,” anyone?
Brewer didn’t seem too happy about Campbell’s order this week. “That’s outrageous,” she said, continuing to defend her order. Well, racism sucks, Jan, it’s expensive, and in true Republican fashion, you’ve left your mess behind for others to clean up. “She's out of office,” MALDEF tweeted, “but Arizonans are still paying the price for her unconstitutional nativism.”