Deadlocking in a 4–4 decision, the U.S. Supreme Court has let stand a ruling by the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals that blocked two controversial directives issued by President Obama in 2014 that would have deferred deportation and provided work permits for millions of undocumented immigrants who are the parents of either citizens or lawful permanent residents, as well as expanded eligibility under a 2012 program.
The split ruling by the Supreme Court in Texas v. U.S., although not precedential — the challenge to the programs’ constitutionality brought by Texas and a number of other states will now return to the lower courts for a ruling on the merits — makes it all but certain that the programs are dead for the remainder of the Obama presidency.
A copy of the one sentence Supreme Court ruling in State of Texas, et al. v. United States, et al., No. 15-674 (June 23, 2016) is available here.
Members of the Equal Employment Advisory Council (EEAC) can read more here.