Supreme Court Blocks Obama’s Immigration Plans

(Washington, DC) — The Supreme Court couldn’t reach a decision for or against President Obama’s immigration reform on Thursday, leaving his executive actions on hold.

The 4-4 decision also leaves undocumented immigrants in limbo, marking a major blow to Obama in the final months of his presidency. Obama’s executive action would shield a roughly four million families from deportation.

The court heard arguments back in April on whether or not to stand behind Obama’s plan to spare these families, undocumented immigrants who’ve lived in the country illegally at least since 2010, who have no criminal record and who have children who are U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents — from mass deportations.

Obama’s plan was met by opposition from 26 states, all led by Republican governors. They argued that Obama does not have the power to chance immigration law.

Outside the Supreme Court on Thursday, more than a thousand demonstrators gathered to stand behind Obama’s plan, marching with signs that read, “keep families together” and chanting, “we’re home and here to stay, undocumented and unafraid.”

President Obama spoke from the White House, calling the decision “disappointing.” He said “leaving the broken system the way it is, is not a solution.” Going on to say, “I think it is heartbreaking for the millions of immigrants who have their lives here, who have raised families here, who hope for the opportunity to work, pay taxes, serve in our military and more fully contribute to this country we all love in an open way.”

The president continued to say that the decision comes at a crucial time nearing the upcoming elections. He said Americans have to decide whether they can tolerate the “hypocrisy” of the current system. “We’re going to have to decide whether we’re people who accept the cruelty of ripping children from their parents’ arms or whether we actually value families and keep them together for the sake of all our communities,” he said.

Democratic presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton released a statement calling the decision “unacceptable.” She continued, “today’s deadlocked decision from the Supreme Court is unacceptable, and shows us all just how high the stakes are in this election. As I have consistently said, I believe that President Obama acted well within his constitutional and legal authority in issuing the DAPA and DACA executive actions.”

She went on to Tweet out the following:

Meanwhile, GOP presidential candidate Donald Trump issued the following statement saying the 4-4 Supreme Court ruling blocked one of the most “unconstitutional” actions ever undertaken by a president. ” The executive amnesty from President Obama wiped away the immigration rules written by Congress, giving work permits and entitlement benefits to people illegally in the country. This split decision also makes clear what is at stake in November. The election, and the Supreme Court appointments that come with it will decide whether or not we have a border and, hence, a country. Clinton has pledged to expand Obama’s executive amnesty, hurting poor African-American and Hispanic workers by giving away their jobs and federal resources to illegal immigrant labor – while making us all less safe. It is time to protect our country and Make America Safe Again and Great Again for everyone.”

He later went on to Tweet the following:

Closer to home, Gonzalo A. de la Melena, Jr., president and CEO of the Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (AZHCC) released the following statement:

“Because we know immigrant workers and their families have helped make the U.S. economy the envy of the world, we are disappointed by the Supreme Court’s deadlocked decision today on President Obama’s plan to offer temporary relief to tens of thousands of undocumented immigrants in Arizona and millions more nationwide. Arizona leaders need to demand that Congress and our next president work to reform our nation’s immigration system in a way that relieves today’s widespread and devastating human costs, while acknowledging that immigrant workers are a key component to sustaining a healthy economy. An estimated 25 to 30 percent of Arizona’s Hispanic-owned businesses are owned by immigrants. We should hold up their economic contributions as a source of pride and a tribute to Arizona’s entrepreneurial spirit.”

Progressive advocacy group Americans United for Change hosted a press conference Thursday afternoon, joined by other Arizona immigration reform leaders. President Brad Woodhouse issued the following statement:

“Republicans will no doubt cheer this decision because like Donald Trump they devalue immigrants. That much is abundantly clear after years of vitriolic anti-immigration rhetoric on the campaign trail and their total refusal to act on commonsense immigration reform. But while they are dousing themselves in champagne they should know this: they’re on the wrong side of this issue, and they are screwed politically.  If Republicans thought the only thing they had to overcome was Donald Trump’s 80 percent disapproval rating with the Hispanic community they now have another thing coming – a Hispanic population that knows well that Republicans backed the lawsuit that could potentially see millions of families being ripped apart.”