The issue focused on police enforcement of rights under law. Law enforcement officials said federal efforts to combat illegal immigration by criminalizing legal immigrants or returning them to their home countries have been successful.

In court rulings, Justice Department lawyers say government courts can reach laws that do not apply to illegal immigrants. However, law enforcement officials also argued the Supreme Court's decision legalizing marijuana legalization was constitutional.

U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder has announced an expansion of federal prosecutorial powers in federal immigration enforcement. Justice