Federal appellate court to consider lifting hold on Obama immigration orders


On Friday, a special three-judge panel of the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans will hear oral arguments for and against lifting a stay on President Obama's executive orders on immigration imposed by a federal judge in Texas. Each side — the U.S. government and a group of 26 states opposed to the measures — will get an hour to make their case. It's unclear when the judges will rule on the motion to lift the hold.
One of the immigration orders issued by Obama last fall was set to take effect Feb. 18, two days after U.S. District Judge Andrew Hanen issued his temporary injunction. The other was set to kick in on May 19. The measures give temporary residency and work permits to up to five million undocumented immigrants.
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Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
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