Immigrants are bracing this week for a showdown between the Federal Court and President Obama’s administration in a pending lawsuit blocks Obama immigration action. Twenty-five states have joined the State of Texas in lawsuit blocks Obama immigration action claiming his executive action on immigration was unconstitutional. This is a classic case of judge shopping as the case was filed in Texas’s conservative-leaning Brownsville district with Judge Andrew Hanen presiding, who is a staunch critic of the Obama administration’s immigration policies. If Judge Hanen decides against the Obama administration, he could block the implementation of the executive measures, which are scheduled to kick in February 18, 2015. If that were to happen, the Department of Justice would almost certainly appeal the decision, which would then go to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals – yet another conservative-leaning court. Lastly, the U.S. Supreme Court may have to ultimately decide whether President Obama’s executive action is constitutional. This legal battle may delay implementation of the deportation protection and issuance of work permits for almost 5 million immigrants living in the United States. This lawsuit blocks Obama immigration action is another example of Republican politics and creating roadblocks instead of a solution.
