Obama had tried to shield 5 million illegals from deportation.
By Raif Karerat
A federal appeals court in New Orleans dealt the Obama administration a major body blow on Monday when it ruled the president overstepped his legal authority in attempting to shield up to 5 million immigrants from deportation.
A panel of judges ruled against the Obama administration 2-1 in Texas v. United States, upholding a lower court’s injunction against two programs.
Obama created one of the programs, called Deferred Action for Parents of Americans, or DAPA, and expanded another, called Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA in an effort to overhaul the U.S. immigration system after the 2014 midterm elections.
However, Texas and 26 other states — all led by Republican governors — subsequently sued the United States in an attempt to halt the executive actions.
While the White House has yet to release an official response to the Fifth Circuit’s decision, some officials have apparently quietly made their frustrations known around the nation’s capital.
“We strongly disagree with the Fifth Circuit’s decision. The Supreme Court and Congress have made clear that the federal government can set priorities in enforcing our immigration laws,” an unnamed White House official told Politico.
Proponents of Obama’s actions looked past the 5th Circuit decision to the potential showdown at the U.S. Supreme Court, which could also make it a central issue in the 2016 presidential election.
“While today’s ruling may be disappointing news to those still stuck in the shadows, it is by no means a surprise. The path is finally clear for the Supreme Court to weigh in and confirm the legality of the expanded DACA and DAPA programs,” Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) said.