Appeals Court Rules Against Obama Immigration Plan
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NEW ORLEANS (CBSDFW.COM/AP) - President Barack Obama's plan to protect from deportation an estimated 5 million people living in the United States illegally has suffered another setback in court.
In a 2-1 decision, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans upheld a Texas-based judge's injunction blocking the Obama administration's immigration initiative.
Republicans had criticized the plan as an illegal executive overreach when Obama announced it last November. Twenty-six states challenged the plan in court.
The administration argued that the executive branch was within its rights in deciding to defer deportation of selected groups of immigrants.
Part of the initiative included expansion of a program called Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, protecting young immigrants from deportation if they were brought to the U.S. illegally as children.
Governor Greg Abbott released a statement following the United States Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals' decision to halt President Obama's Executive Amnesty action.
"The court's decision is a vindication for the Rule of Law and the Constitution," said Governor Abbott. "The President's job is to enforce the immigration laws, not rewrite them. President Obama should abandon his lawless executive amnesty program and start enforcing the law today."
The following is a statement from Danny Cendejas, immigration campaign field director of the Texas Organizing Project, on the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals' decision, continuing to block the implementation of DAPA and expanded DACA.
"Gov. Greg Abbott's lawsuit continues to keep millions of hardworking immigrant families living in fear and on the margins. It also robs Texas of more than $300 million in tax revenue over the next five years. Today's court ruling is far from the final word on President Obama's executive action.
"We remain confident that this executive action will be ruled constitutional by the Supreme Court. Meanwhile, we are continuing to help people get ready to apply for administrative relief. Already we have helped more than 2,000 Texans get informed and ready.
"As we approach the one-year anniversary of the President announcing DAPA and expanded DACA, TOP members are holding demonstrations and days of action this month to show that immigrant and Latino families will not sit idly by while their rights continue to be trampled on by Gov. Abbott. We are fighting back and holding him accountable for his efforts to continue separating families."
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