Obama Appeals Immigration Ruling to SCOTUS
In the year since Obama announced his plans to legalize 5 million undocumented immigrants in the United States, his plans have remained tied up in legal limbo by conservatives who seek to run out the clock on his presidency.
But the federal appeals court that has deliberated this case for many months has finally come to a decision. On November 9, the court announced that the president’s actions, known as Deferred Action for Parents of Americans, did not follow proper administrative procedures and exceeded his authority.
While this may seem like bad news for immigrants, Obama now plans to take his case to the Supreme Court. Last week, the U.S. Department of Justice formally put this plan into motion when it asked the Supreme Court to review the decision. Immigrant rights groups are excited by this development, believing that they have a chance to win this battle with the Supreme Court deciding the final outcome.
If the Supreme Court agrees to take Obama’s case, legal experts have noted that the final ruling will either expand or contract the executive authority of future presidents on issues far beyond immigration policy.
While experts remain positive that the Supreme Court will agree to hear the case, the review is not definite.
Even if the Supreme Court does take Obama’s case and rules in his favor, there will be little time for the president to implement his plans before the inauguration of the next president.
However, activists on both sides have said that they will make this a central issue with voters during next year’s presidential campaign. Now that Obama has set a precedent, voters may be looking for candidates who are more or less innovative when it comes to immigration reform.
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/11/us/politics/supreme-court-immigration-obama.html?_r=0
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