USA-IMMIGRATION/OBAMA-COURT Texas judge blocks Obama plan to protect undocumented immigrants

Record ID: 590881

  • Title: USA-IMMIGRATION/OBAMA-COURT Texas judge blocks Obama plan to protect undocumented immigrants
  • Date: 17th February 2015
  • Summary: WASHINGTON D.C., UNITED STATES (FEBRUARY 17, 2015) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (English) BEN JOHNSON, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR THE AMERICAN IMMIGRATION COUNCIL SAYING: "What was most notable about the president's decision to issue this executive action was that it was action. It recognized that congress was in a political stalemate and had refused to act on immigration in almost fifteen years and during that time, thousands of communities, millions of families have been impacted by the fact that are immigration system needs to be fixed. It's just sort of desperately out of sync with the needs of the nation."
  • Embargoed: 4th March 2015 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Mexico
  • Country: Mexico
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA7G4BGIGP97N37DAE033FDE1UT
  • Story Text: Immigration reform advocates and Obama administration officials on Tuesday (February 17) described a U.S. federal judge's decision to temporarily block President Barack Obama's immigration order as "unfortunate" and said they were hopeful about an appeal.
    Ruling in favor of about two dozen U.S. states opposed to the plan, U.S. District Judge Andrew Hanen in Brownsville, Texas on Monday (February 16) said the administration had not complied with procedures needed for putting into effect Obama's immigration moves.
    "I think this court decision today is unfortunate that it is going to delay action," Ben Johnson, Executive Director of the American Immigration Council said.
    Johnson said the judge's ruling did not come as a surprise, adding that he expects the decision will be reversed on an appeal.
    "The judge did not say that this was a violation of the constitution. The judge did not find that the administration had exceeded its constitutional authority. The decision itself is a very narrow finding indicating that the Obama administration hadn't followed the proper procedures in issuing this decision."
    The delay, said Johnson is bad news for many supporters of the Obama plan.
    "Thousands of communities, millions of families have been impacted by the fact that are immigration system needs to be fixed."
    On the streets of Washington, some locals called the decision an "injustice."
    "They don't know what it is like to suffer in this country and be illegal trying to work and do well," Washington resident Roberto said.
    Washington resident Daisy said the decision punishes people who are being productive in the U.S.
    "It is bad," she said, because it targets people who are trying to "be better" and help their families.
    Attorney General Eric Holder is considering seeking a stay to immediately reverse the Texas judge's decision.
    "It is a decision by one federal district court judge. I expect, I've always expected that this is a matter that will ultimately be decided by a higher court if not the Supreme Court than the federal court of appeals."
    He called it "an interim step" in a long legal process.
    Holder said the decision over whether to allow the action, which would grant temporary relief from deportation for 4.7 million people who are in the United States illegally, will ultimately play out in courts.
    Obama announced the program in November using his executive authority. The move bypassed Congress, which has not passed immigration reform legislation despite several attempts.
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