Gov’t Will Appeal Ruling Blocking Obama Immigration Plan

WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House says the Justice Department will appeal a federal judge's ruling which temporarily blocked President Barack Obama's executive action on immigration.

On Monday, U.S. District Judge Andrew Hanen in Texas issued a temporary injunction, giving a coalition of 26 states time to pursue a lawsuit that aims to permanently stop the orders. The ruling puts on hold Obama's orders that could spare as many as five million people who are in the U.S. illegally from deportation.

In a statement early Tuesday morning, the White House said Monday's ruling "wrongly prevents" the president's "lawful, commonsense policies" from taking effect.

The White House said that the Justice Department, legal scholars, immigration experts and the federal district court in Washington have determined that Obama's actions are well within his legal authority.