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The 2-1 decision
by the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans to
uphold a May injunction deals a blow to Obama's plan, opposed by
Republicans and challenged by 26 states.
The states, all led by Republican governors, said the federal
government exceeded its authority in demanding whole categories
of immigrants be protected.
The Obama administration has said it is within its rights to ask
the Department of Homeland Security to use discretion before
deporting nonviolent migrants with U.S. family ties.
The case has become the focal point of the Democratic
president's efforts to change U.S. immigration policy.
Seeing no progress on legislative reform in Congress, Obama
announced last November he would take executive action to help
immigrants. He has faced criticism from Republicans who say the
program grants amnesty to lawbreakers.
In its ruling, the appeals court said it was denying the
government's appeal to stay the May injunction "after
determining that the appeal was unlikely to succeed on its
merits."
Republicans hailed the ruling as a victory against the Obama
administration.
John Scalise, the No. 3 Republican in the House of
Representatives, said in a Twitter message that the court
decision was "a major victory for the rule of law."
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said in a statement the ruling
meant the state, which has led the legal challenge, "has secured
an important victory to put a halt to the president’s
lawlessness."
(Reporting by Mohammad Zargham; Editing by Sandra Maler and Lisa
Shumaker)
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