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Obama says will win immigration dispute

Other News Materials 18 February 2015 07:50 (UTC +04:00)
US President Barack Obama says the immigration issue will end in his administration’s favor following the announcement of a delay in the implementation of his unilateral steps.
Obama says will win immigration dispute

US President Barack Obama says the immigration issue will end in his administration's favor following the announcement of a delay in the implementation of his unilateral steps, Press TV reported.

Obama told reporters at the Oval Office on Tuesday that the law and history are on his side despite a ruling by a Texas court that made the White House delay the executive action, which would allow millions of undocumented immigrants to stay in the United States.

"With respect to the ruling ... I disagree with it," Obama said. "I think the law is on our side and history is on our side."

"We will be prepared to implement this fully as soon as the legal issues get resolved," he noted, adding, "This is not the first time a lower court judge has blocked something or attempted to block something that ultimately was shown to be lawful."

Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson said in a statement earlier that the administration would comply with the judge's order.

As a result, applications for deportation relief and work permits will not be accepted from illegal immigrants on Wednesday, as scheduled, Johnson said.

However, Johnson said that "we fully expect to ultimately prevail in the courts."

He further rejected that idea that Obama had exceeded his powers, saying, "The Department of Justice, legal scholars, immigration experts and even other courts have said that our actions are well within our legal authority."

On Monday, US District Judge Andrew Hanen in Brownsville, a city along the Texas border with Mexico, blocked Obama's orders, arguing he overstepped his legal authority.

The move came following pressure by 26 states -- all but two Republican-governed that claimed the president had acted unlawfully.

The White House said later that the Justice Department would appeal the action.

Obama's executive orders would allow up to 4.7 million illegal immigrants to stay in the United States without any deportation threats. The orders mainly aim at 4.4 million people whose children are US citizens or legal permanent residents.

There are roughly 11 million people living in the US illegally.

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