Fifth Circuit to weigh hold on Obama’s immigration orders

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit will hear arguments in a case Friday that could lift the injunction that has put President Obama’s executive actions expanding protections for millions of undocumented immigrants on hold. 

The appeal stems from the order Texas Judge Andrew Hanen issued to freeze the action’s Obama took in November to expand eligibility for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, which offers protections to immigrants brought to the United States illegally as children, and the Deferred Action for Parents of Americans, or DAPA, which allows parents of U.S. citizens and permanent residents to apply for amnesty.

Hanen’s order came after 26 states filed a lawsuit claiming Obama’s actions were unconstitutional.

Reps. Luis Gutiérrez (D-Ill,), Raúl Grijalva (D-Ariz.) and advocates for immigration reform are planning to rally outside the court on Friday to call for an end to the delay in implementing the Obama’s immigration initiatives.

A news release from Gutiérrez’s office said these programs would allow millions of hardworking and longtime residents to apply for work authorization and to remain in the United States with their families.

“Each day the orders remain blocked from being implemented, hundreds more families are permanently separated and millions more dollars in tax revenue are lost,” the release said.