The Department of Justice will ask a higher court to stay a Texas judge's ruling that put on hold plans to provide deportation deferrals to people here illegally. White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said in the daily briefing Friday that he expected the request for a stay to be filed by Monday at the latest in a district court.
If granted, a stay would set aside the ruling of U.S. District Judge Andrew Hanen, who late Monday issued a preliminary injunction blocking the U.S. government from enacting President Barack Obama's executive action on immigration that would shield about 4 million immigrants from deportation and provide many with work permits. The government had planned to being taking applications Wednesday from young immigrants who arrived as children for the deportation protection and work permits, but the judge's decision put it on hold, along with plans for an application period for immigrant parents of U.S. citizen and legal resident children.
Appeals of Texas cases are heard by the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals.
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--Suzanne Gamboa