United States President Barack Obama wants to block the deportation of more than 4 million undocumented immigrants in his immigration plan. The United States Supreme Court has begun to hear the arguments for the plan, but the justices seem to be divided on the matter.
In a report by St. Louis Post-Dispatch, the Supreme Court agreed to hear the arguments about the case back when Justice Antonin Scalia was still alive. Some of the cases have been hanging by the balance due to the death of theJustice. Texas and 25 other states brought a challenge to the program of Obama as they want the deportation to push through.
The immigration law by Obama and his administration will allow the more than 4 million unauthorized immigrants to apply for a program sparing them from deportation and providing them work permits. The program was announced in November 2014. Obama said the program, called Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents (DAPA), aims to prevent families from being torn apart.
The New York Times reported that a 4-4 deadlock is highly possible, making it difficult for Obama and his administration to implement the plan in case the Supreme Court sides with him. It will take six months before it could be fully implemented and a decision regarding the case will not be reached until June. This means Obama will not have the chance to save the immigrants while he remains in office.
The Republicans have accused Obama of acting lawlessly in exceeding the limits of his presidential power regarding his proposal. He is also accused of not doing enough to secure the nation's border. If and when his plan will be victorious, it will be one of his central legacies as president -allowing mmigrants to stay in the country and even work legally.
Solicitor General Donald B. Verrilli Jr. argued that Texas has not suffered a direct and concrete injury regarding immigrants. However, Texas says it has a standing to sue because it will be costly for the state to give driver's licenses to immigrants in the area.
The liberal justices voiced their support for Obama's action while the conservatives remained skeptical, Reuters reported.
In order to win, Obama will have to have support from at least one of the court's conservatives. It is either Chief Justice John Roberts or Anthony Kennedy, reports say.
