Texas is leading a coalition of 16 other states in suing the Obama Administration over his plan for immigration reform.

The suit argues Obama's executive action violated the U.S. Constitution.

The lawsuit, filed in a Texas federal court, claims the Obama Administration violated U.S. Constitutional limits on presidential powers when President Obama ordered protection from deportation and the right to work for up to 5 million parents of U.S. citizens. The lawsuit, led by Texas Governor-elect Greg Abbott, a Republican, seeks to have the order declared illegal, but seeks no monetary damages.

"The President is abdicating his responsibility to faithfully enforce laws that were duly enacted by Congress, and attempting to rewrite immigration laws, which he has no authority to do," Abbott told Reuters.

In the lawsuit, which raises three objections, Abbott, who is currently Texas' attorney general, cites Article 2, Section 3 of the Constitution, which states the president "shall take care that the laws be faithfully executed." Abbott said the lawsuits asks the court to require Obama to go through Congress before enforcing laws, "rather than making them up himself."

The lawsuit argues the federal government violated rulemaking procedures and the order will "exacerbate the humanitarian crisis along the southern border which will affect increased state investment in law enforcement, health care and education."

Joining Abbott and the state of Texas in the 17-state coalition are other Republican strongholds to include Alabama, Georgia, Idaho, Mississippi and Utah.

North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory, a Republican, told Reuters his state joined because "the president has exceeded the balance of power provisions clearly laid out in the U.S. Constitution."

The White House has said the executive order falls within presidential powers, and has argued that the ultimate answer is for Congress to pass meaningful immigration reform.

Other states joining the lawsuit include: Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Montana, Nebraska, South Carolina, South Dakota, West Virginia and Wisconsin.

This is the 31st time Abbott has sued the federal government since Obama came to the White House in 2009.