WASHINGTON, DC--(Marketwired - May 27, 2015) - Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton made the following statement regarding the recent Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals' ruling which found the Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents (DAPA) program, President Obama's executive amnesty, likely will not survive court scrutiny:
The Fifth Circuit Court's ruling against President Obama's executive amnesty, officially known as the Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents program, is a win for the American people. The federal courts aren't buying into President Obama's power grab that rewrites immigration law. It is reassuring to see that the judiciary is still committed, at least in this matter, to abiding by constitutional principles and the rule of law.
While the Fifth Circuit limited its ruling to the question of granting or denying the request to stay the injunction, one need only read the court's opinion carefully to see that the broader legal outlook for DAPA, and possibly other executive overreaches on amnesty, is stormy, at best.
This ruling is a significant win for Judicial Watch supporters who for years have fought the Obama administration's blatant abuse of immigration law and presidential authority. Judicial Watch filed three amicus curiae briefs in State of Texas, et al. v. United States of America, et al.
- opposing the administration's request for an emergency "stay";
- opposing the Department of Justice's attempt to block the ruling that postponed immigration action in the Fifth Circuit;
- and on behalf of State Legislators for Legal Immigration (SLLI) in support of Texas and 20 other states that sued the federal government to prevent the Obama administration's implementation of DAPA.
This victory is important but Americans should know that President Obama's administration has almost completely stopped deporting illegal aliens and continues to leave our borders open to illegal aliens and terrorists. This lawlessness places the nation's safety at risk.