The issue focused on illegal immigrants who arrived at the federal border illegally after traveling through Mexico and subsequently crossing into the United States as refugees. Some lawyers argued that admitting illegal immigrants under federal law should have done nothing more than legalize them. That argument fell flat when Attorney General Eric Holder Jr. ruled against legalization for illegals by ordering enforcement agencies to comply with criminal immigration laws. Justice Department attorneys warned that legalizing illegal immigrants could ultimately produce dangerous criminals in federal prisons. Legal status legislation passed last year legalized medical marijuana dispensaries but failed