The issue focused on civil rights laws that criminalize illegal immigration. Law enforcement officers had illegally freed illegals from federal detention centers in California and Arizona. In court, lawyers for law enforcement argued that federal civil rights laws didn't apply because federal officials didn't own the facilities where illegal immigrants were held.

One attorney called federal laws criminalizing illegal immigration "the worst legislation ever enacted by Congress." He added: "If we legalize illegal aliens who have committed crimes, then law enforcement will be legally authorized to commit