Judge Blocks Obama’s Immigration Action from Moving Forward
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iStock/Thinkstock(WASHINGTON) — President Obama’s executive action to legalize up to five million undocumented immigrants was suspended indefinitely Monday when a federal judge in Texas ruled that the White House failed to comply with a law governing the issuance of government regulations.
Judge Andre Hanen’s temporary injunction in response to a lawsuit filed by 26 GOP governors and attorneys general will remain in effect until a trial can be held to decide whether Obama’s actions overstepped his office’s authority and violated the Constitution.
Hanen’s order blocking implementation of the president’s attempt to reform immigration will undoubtedly be appealed by the White House.
It’s a victory for critics of the plan announced by Obama last November, who said he acted unilaterally because the GOP-controlled House refused to vote on a bipartisan Senate bill on immigration reform from June 2013.
Although Hanen did not comment on the legality of the executive actions, some opponents contend temporarily legalizing millions is tantamount to amnesty.
Without the injunction, immigration officials could have begun accepting applications from undocumented immigrants as soon as Wednesday.
Meanwhile, the Dream Action Coalition issued a statement that said in part, “This decision by Republican judge comes at no surprise: the injunction is clearly based more on politics than law, and is now part of an aggressive effort by the rightward fringe of the GOP to scare Dreamers and parents from applying. Nevertheless, we will not let this temporary obstacle stop us from holding forums, encouraging people to collect their paperwork and eventually apply; this injunction is only temporary after all.”
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