WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama mourned the defeat Thursday of his sweeping plan to offer deportation relief to millions of immigrants and tried to put the next steps in the hands of voters, casting the November election as a referendum on what’s widely considered to be a broken immigration system. Speaking to reporters after a deadlocked…
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The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) issued the following comment:
The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) today expressed deep disappointment about the Supreme Court’s 4-4 split in U.S. v. Texas, which leaves in place an injunction blocking relief from deportation for certain immigrants who are parents of U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents, as well as people who were brought to the U.S. as children.
“We were hopeful this case would provide relief to families and protections for immigrants, but there is no such relief today,” said Marvin D. Nathan, ADL National Chair. “American children born and raised in the United States will now go to sleep fearing that their parents could be deported, or be plagued by the unimaginable thought of their family being torn apart at any moment. It is deeply disappointing and disheartening that the Supreme Court’s 4-4 split means that there is no relief in sight.”
“Millions of lives hang in the balance,” said Jonathan A. Greenblatt, ADL CEO. “This ruling, although only one sentence long, is one of the most consequential immigration rulings in recent history and effectively means that President Obama’s executive orders will not go into effect during the remainder of his term in office.
“As the case goes back to the lower courts for further hearings, we will redouble our efforts to fight for comprehensive and meaningful immigration reform that prioritizes keeping families together.”
In November 2014, President Obama signed the executive orders, Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents (DAPA) and an expansion of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). The initiatives would allow certain immigrants who are parents of U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents, as well as people who were brought to the U.S. as children, temporary work authorization and relief from deportation.
In February 2015, a federal district court judge in Texas issued an injunction blocking the initiatives after Texas and 25 other states filed a lawsuit to block their implementation. A divided panel of the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the district court’s order. Today’s Supreme Court split means that the injunction remains in effect nationwide by default and the case will be sent back to the lower courts for further consideration.
ADL previously signed onto coalition briefs urging the Supreme Court to hear the case and to uphold the executive orders.