Appeals Court to Take Up Obama's Immigration Action

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Appellate judges on Friday will consider whether to lift a temporary hold imposed by a federal judge in Texas on President Barack Obama's executive action seeking to shield millions of immigrants from deportation.

A three-judge panel of the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals will hear arguments in a closely watched case that has put Obama's immigration action on hold.

U.S. District Judge Andrew Hanen in Brownsville granted a preliminary injunction on Feb. 16 at the request of 26 states that oppose Obama's action. Hanen's rulings have temporarily blocked the Obama administration from implementing the policies that would allow as many as 5 million people in the U.S. illegally to remain.

Large numbers of advocacy groups and immigrants were planning to rally outside the New Orleans courthouse.

(Story by: Cain Burdeau, The Associated Press)