The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals has expedited an appeal to a district court’s ruling that blocks President Obama’s executive amnesty while the case works its way through the courts. In addition, the appeals court will hear arguments on April 17 about whether it should stay the lower court’s injunction, a legal step the Obama administration has requested.
Last month, U.S. District Court Judge Andrew Hanen placed a preliminary injunction on President Obama’s November 20 executive amnesty programs — the expansion of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents (DAPA) — in the case of 26 states challenging the executive actions.
The Justice Department appealed the decision to the higher court this month, seeking to allow the executive amnesty go forward.
The state of Texas is leading the 26 states in its court fight against the executive orders.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton stressed, following the Fifth Circuit’s date announcement, that it would continue to “vigorously oppose the president’s illegal amnesty plan in court.”
“The rule of law is at the very heart of our case against President Obama’s lawless immigration action,” Paxton said. “We are a nation of laws, and we are proud to lead a bipartisan coalition of 26 states fighting this Administration’s unilateral and unconstitutional use of executive power.”
Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, West Virginia, and Wisconsin are joining Texas in the challenge to executive amnesty.