President Obama’s executive actions to protect nearly 4 million unauthorized immigrants from deportation have been temporarily thwarted by an injunction by U.S. District Judge Hanen.
Meanwhile, the government has granted three-year reprieves from deportation and work authorization to 100,000 Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) beneficiaries under the November 2014 actions.
The injunction has blocked the Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents (DAPA) program which offers protection from deportation, and work authorization, to certain unauthorized immigrants.
If the injunction is not lifted soon, the case will move up to the Supreme Court, with a final resolution delayed for months. Thus, whether President Obama can achieve immigration reform through bold executive action remains to be seen.