Incoming Texas Gov . Greg Abbott said Monday he expects to legally challenge President Barack Obama 's new immigration action `` in the next two weeks . '' Abbott , currently the attorney general in Texas , said he 's reaching out to other governors and top state attorneys about joining the expected lawsuit . `` Our constitutional structure does not work when our president is untethered from the law . That is what has happened here , '' he said at a news conference Monday . Abbott 's charge against Obama 's executive order limiting deportations has vaulted the Republican onto the national stage , giving him a lead role on a prominent issue just as he prepares to replace outgoing Gov . Rick Perry . RELATED : Virginia 's Ken Cuccinelli on immigration lawsuit : 'Take it slow ' He accused Obama on Monday of violating the Constitution 's requirement that the president faithfully execute laws passed by Congress , and said Obama 's move is dangerous because it paves the way for future presidential candidates to claim , for instance , that they would waive penalties for Americans who did n't pay taxes . He said the attorney general 's office is currently conducting `` research and analysis '' on a legal challenge and is contacting other states with status updates . Oklahoma officials have already said they expect to sue , and others -- including Indiana Gov . Mike Pence -- have said they 're considering joining the challenge , as well . He said a 2012 Obama order deferring the deportation of `` dreamers '' -- undocumented immigrants who came to the United States as children , who would have gained legal status under a bill dubbed the `` DREAM Act '' that never became law -- led to `` millions of dollars in costs to schools , to law enforcement , to health care '' in Texas . `` If history repeats itself even in the slightest , Texas will once again sustain consequences from the president 's executive order , '' Abbott said .
Obama Gov.-elect Abbott says the state is preparing to challenge President Texas 's immigration order in court . Abbott says he 's reaching out to other states and expects to file a lawsuit `` in Monday '' The Americans has seized a prominent role leading the charge against Obama 's executive order .