DOJ appealing to Supreme Court on immigration plan after latest legal setback

The Justice Department plans to appeal to the Supreme Court in a bid to preserve President Obama’s immigration executive actions, after a federal court delivered another blow to the administration’s plan.

 

In a 2-1 decision, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans upheld a federal judge’s injunction blocking the measure.

 

On Tuesday, the DOJ issued a brief statement saying it would go to the Supreme Court.

 

“The Department of Justice remains committed to taking steps that will resolve the immigration litigation as quickly as possible in order to allow DHS to bring greater accountability to our immigration system by prioritizing the removal of the worst offenders, not people who have long ties to the United States and who are raising American children,” DOJ spokesman Patrick Rodenbush said.

 

“The Department disagrees with the Fifth Circuit’s adverse ruling and intends to seek further review from the Supreme Court of the United States.”

 

Obama ally Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid said in a statement he has “every confidence that the [Supreme Court] will find the actions lawful.”

 

But the appeals court ruling further dims the prospect of implementation of the executive actions — which would prevent the deportation of an estimated 5 million illegal immigrants — before Obama leaves office in 2017. Appeals over the injunction could take months. Depending on how the case unfolds, the injunction could even go back to the Texas federal court for more proceedings.

 

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