A federal appeals court in New Orleans has rejected the Obama administration’s request to move forward with its executive actions on immigration while the court hears an appeal in the case.
In a 68-page ruling issued Tuesday, the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals said: “In summary, the United States has not made a strong showing that it is likely to succeed on the merits.”
Georgia and 25 other state are suing to block President Barack Obama’s efforts to temporarily shield from deportation millions of immigrants living illegally in the U.S. Those who qualify for the relief would also be eligible for three-year work permits.
There is a lot at stake in the case for Georgia. An estimated 170,000 immigrants living in Georgia meet the parameters set by the government for relief, according to the Migration Policy Institute, a Washington-based think tank that evaluates migration policies.
The states argue those programs will increase their costs for services and encourage more illegal immigration. Others say the case is more about upholding the Constitution. In legal briefs filed with the appeals court, the Obama administration said there is another important issue at stake: the executive branch’s authority to prioritize immigration enforcement at a time of limited resources. The government says it is shifting its focus toward deporting recent border crossers, criminals and people who pose threats to national security.
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