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Court backs hold on Obama immigration action US court backs hold on Obama immigration action
(35 minutes later)
A US court has ruled that President Obama's plans to protect almost five million illegal immigrants from deportation must stay on hold. A US court has backed a temporary hold on President Barack Obama's plans to shield almost five million illegal immigrants from deportation.
The Justice Department wanted an appeals court to overturn a block imposed after 26 states launched a legal challenge to the action. The hold was imposed after 26 states launched a legal challenge against the executive action, alleging it was unconstitutional.
But the court denied the government's request. An appeals court has now denied a government request to overturn it.
The states say the action is unconstitutional, but the White House says Mr Obama acted within his powers. The White House said the action was essential to fix a "broken immigration system".
Under the plans, announced last year, people who entered the US illegally as children and parents of children who are US citizens would be offered temporary protection from deportation.
Aside from arguing President Obama acted outside his authority, the states say the move forces them to invest more in law enforcement, health care and education.
The 5th US Circuit Court of Appeals' ruling keeps the plans on hold while the states' legal challenge proceeds.
It is not clear yet whether the Obama administration will appeal.
The Republican governor of Texas, Greg Abbott, who has been a persistent critic of the president's immigration policies, tweeted: "The constitution wins".