The U.S. Supreme Court rejected a July appeal by the Department of Justice to rehear the case on immigration executive action programs, which would have benefitted some five million undocumented immigrants.
Supreme Court rejects Obama administration's appeal to rehear DACA/DAPA case
The court said it would not reconsider the executive action programs, dealing a new blow to President Barack Obama's immigration policy.
Por:
Jorge Cancino.
Some 5 million immigrants would have benefitted from Obama's executive action programs.
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The two initiatives, expanded DACA and DAPA, offer deportation relief and work authorization for young undocumented immigrants and parents of U.S. citizens and legal permanent residents. The court's decision brings an end to the Obama administration's legal battle to implement these programs.
The justices did not comment on the ruling.
On June 23, the Supreme Court effectively upheld an injunction by the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals against the two programs, tying in a 4-4 decision. The court only has eight justices after Justice Antonin Scalia died in February. The Senate has refused to vote on Obama's nominee to replace Scalia.
Obama announced the two programs to benefit undocumented immigrants in November 2014. But in February 2015, a Texas district court issued an injunction, freezing the two programs after 26 states sued the federal government.
The case now returns to the Texas district court, where a reversal is unlikely. Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton has said she would implement a similar plan to benefit undocumented immigrants, and Republican candidate Donald Trump said he would end the programs.
Rachel Glickhouse contributed to this report.
