An immigration reform rally which took place in Lexington, Kentucky in April 2006.
Over four million immigrants are currently in legal limbo. President Obama's original plan to protect these immigrants from deportation was stopped by U.S. District Judge Andrew Hanen on Monday.
Judge Hanen made a decision to block Obama's immigration actions on Monday from Brownsville, Texas. Brownsville is next to the U.S. and Mexico border. Republicans supported the judge's decision, who claims that the President does not have the authority to enact such legislation. Hanen, along with a total of 26 states, argues that President Obama's actions are unconstitutional.
In the past, Hanen has voiced disapproval of President Obama's immigration policies. The judge believes Obama is overstepping his authority, and rather than amending the current immigration policy, the President is creating a new policy altogether.
"It represents a massive change in immigration practice, and will have a significant effect on, not only illegally present immigrants, but also the nation's entire immigration scheme and the states who must bear the lion's share of its consequences," wrote Judge Hansen in one of his opinions.
Hanen stated that the President did not follow proper procedure to enact his immigration policy changes. The President's administration, however, argues that the immigration moves were within the President's authority.
The White House declared on Tuesday that it would challenge the judge's decision through appeal. Immigration proponents believe that the Obama Administration will win the appeal and that the immigration policies will be put into effect.
"The district court's decision wrongly prevents these lawful, common-sense policies from taking effect, and the Department of Justice has indicated that it will appeal that decision," stated the White House.
The President's original plan, the Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents, was scheduled to take effect in the spring of 2015. The move would protect about four million immigrants who have been in the United States since 2010 and have children who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents. Applications were scheduled to start being accepted on Wednesday.
