U.S. Supreme Court refuses to reconsider DAPA and DACA expansion

Without explanation, the U.S. Supreme Court today announced that it will not hear the appeal filed by the Department of Justice in July. At your requesturged the highest court to reconsider its ruling on the immigration programs proposed by President Obama's November 2014 executive action.

The decision puts an end to the legal measures that the White House may present to save DAPA, the deferred action program for parents of U.S. residents or citizens, and the expansion of DACA, which benefits undocumented immigrants who came to the country as children.

A federal judge in Texas blocked the implementation of the two programs in February 2015 after 26 states across the country filed a lawsuit arguing that the measures were unconstitutional and would cause financial harm if they had to issue driver's licenses to thousands of undocumented immigrants who would be covered by DAPA and expanded DACA.

Since then, a battle ensued in the courts that culminated in the Supreme Court. But after the death of Justice Antonin Scalia and the reluctance of the U.S. Congress to accept the nomination of Merrick Garland and confirm him as his replacement, the Supreme Court tied 4-4, with the decision of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit remaining in effect.

Now Judge Andrew Hanen, who blocked the measures last year, must issue a decision on the 26-state lawsuit. That decision can be appealed, opening the possibility that the case could go to the Supreme Court again.