{"id":145128,"date":"2016-04-18T08:30:31","date_gmt":"2016-04-18T14:30:31","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/?p=145128"},"modified":"2016-04-18T08:30:31","modified_gmt":"2016-04-18T14:30:31","slug":"texas-to-make-its-case-in-supreme-court-against-immigration-action","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/2016\/04\/texas-to-make-its-case-in-supreme-court-against-immigration-action\/","title":{"rendered":"Texas to make its case in Supreme Court against immigration action"},"content":{"rendered":"

Attorneys for the state of Texas have said more than once that their efforts to stop President Obama\u2019s executive action on immigration isn\u2019t about deportations or specific immigration policy.<\/p>\n

\"The

Abby Livingston \/ The Texas Tribune<\/p>

The U.S. Supreme Court building in Washington, D.C.<\/p><\/div>\n

Instead, they\u2019ve argued, it\u2019s about the rule of law, preserving the U.S. Constitution and preventing presidential overreach.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s provided little solace to the millions who would have benefited from the program that, announced in November 2014, is known as Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents, or DAPA. It would shield nearly 5 million undocumented immigrants in the country from deportation proceedings and allow them to apply for a three-year work permit.<\/p>\n

On Monday, the state will argue before the U.S. Supreme Court in the last legal battle over the program. Lower courts have already ruled to stop the program three times. That happened after Gov. Greg Abbott<\/a>, in his former role as the state\u2019s attorney general, sued to stop the program. Twenty-five states eventually joined the case.<\/p>\n

In 2015, U.S. District Court Judge Andrew Hanen of Brownsville ruled the Obama administration didn\u2019t comply with the federal government\u2019s\u00a0Administrative Procedure Act<\/a>, which\u00a0governs how federal regulations are made. A Nov. 9\u00a0decision<\/a>\u00a0by the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals\u00a0upheld Hanen’s decision.<\/p>\n

The state is confident it will remain undefeated after the high court issues its ruling, which will probably come in June.<\/p>\n

\u201cAttorney General [Ken] Paxton looks forward to taking this case before the Supreme Court … on behalf of 26 states united against the president\u2019s unlawful immigration action,\u201d attorney general spokeswoman Cynthia Meyer said.<\/p>\n

But the death of conservative Justice Antonin Scalia means this case will be watched with added intrigue. A 4-4 split means the lower court\u2019s rulings are upheld and Obama loses. But a swing vote could mean that potential beneficiaries of the program have six months left to apply.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s a look back at the actions and decisions affecting the case:<\/p>\n

Nov. 20, 2014<\/h3>\n

President Obama announces his executive action<\/a> on immigration called Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents, or DAPA. The program would allow nearly 5 million undocumented immigrants to apply for a reprieve from deportation proceedings if they pass background checks, pay taxes and have been in the country for more than five years, the White House announces. It is scheduled to take effect in February 2015.<\/p>\n