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Last updated on Tuesday, February 17, 2015
(HOUSTON) - A federal judge has granted a request by a coalition of 26 states - including Indiana - to temporarily block President Barack Obama’s executive action on immigration while its lawsuit to permanently stop the order goes through the courts.
U.S. District Judge Andrew Hanen granted a preliminary injunction Monday, after hearing arguments at a hearing in Brownsville, Texas, in January.
The federal government is expected to appeal Hanen's ruling to the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans. The Justice Department had no immediate comment.
Obama's executive action aims to spare from deportation as many as five million people who are in the U.S. illegally.
The first of Obama's orders, which expands a program that protects young immigrants from deportation if they were brought to the U.S. illegally as children, was scheduled to take effect Wednesday. The second part of Obama's order, which extends protections against deportation to the parents of U.S. citizens and permanent residents who have been in the country for some years, was not expected to begin until May 19.
The White House issued a statement early Tuesday morning saying, "...the President's actions are well within his legal authority. Top law enforcement officials, along with state and local leaders across the country, have emphasized that these policies will also benefit the economy and help keep communities safe."
The temporary block would be in place while the 26-state lawsuit to permanently stop the order goes through the courts.
Obama is expected to appeal the decision.
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