U.S. District Judge Andrew S. Hanen on Tuesday didn't simply deny lifting an injunction placed on President Obama's executive action on immigration last February. He vehemently denied the request, saying millions of undocumented individuals would cause irreparable damage.
Hanen, like lawmakers from 26 largely Republican states, opined that Obama had exceeded his authority and violated standard administrative procedures for creating new programs. The Texas federal judge concluded that the president's immigration action should not go forward.
In a separate ruling, Hanen allowed states to investigate whether the Obama administration had already implemented the program. Justice Department attorneys, Hanen said, lied by claiming they would accept applications until he issued a ruling.
Hanen, expressing visible anger, threatened the department with sanctions.
"Fabrications, misstatements, half-truths, artful omissions and the failure to correct misstatements may be acceptable, albeit lamentable, in other aspects of life. But in the courtroom, when an attorney knows that both the court and the other side are relying on complete frankness, such conduct is unacceptable," Hanen wrote.
An estimated five million undocumented immigrants can apply for three-year work permits under Obama's Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents program. They would be shielded from deportation if they met qualifications which included being a parent and passing a background check.
More than 100,000 applied in the short timeframe they were given.
The president hoped approved DAPA legislation led to an expanded Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, which makes legal residents of people who were brought to the U.S. as children.
"The district court in Texas has wrongly continued to prevent those lawful, common-sense policies from taking effect - even in the many states where local leaders and law enforcement officials have said they support the executive actions and expect their communities to benefit from them," a White House representative said on Wednesday. "The Department of Justice has appealed the district court's decision and sought an emergency stay from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit."
A three-judge panel will hear arguments on the matter April 17 in New Orleans.
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