[ti:Legal Battle Expected Over Obama's Immigration Order] [ar:Mario Ritter] [al:In The News] [by:www.51voa.com] [00:00.00]From VOA Learning English, this is In The News. [00:04.79]President Barack Obama's executive order [00:08.38]on immigration was supposed to go into effect this week. [00:13.16]The order would prevent millions of undocumented immigrants [00:18.12]in the United States from being sent back to their home country. [00:22.65]On Monday, [00:24.14]a U.S. federal judge temporarily blocked Mr. Obama's plan. [00:29.55]Judge Andrew Hanen ruled in support of 26 states [00:35.07]that sought to cancel the order. [00:37.45]His ruling came a day before the first part of the program was to begin. [00:44.09]But experts say the legal battle is far from over. [00:49.36]Up to five million undocumented immigrants [00:54.15]were excited when President Obama signed the order last year. [00:59.40]In immigrant communities, [01:02.48]feelings of hope turned to sadness [01:05.58]when the judge's ruling was announced. [01:08.30]At the White House, the president had this reaction. [01:13.28]"We are not going to disregard this federal court ruling. [01:17.03]So we are not going to be, actually, [01:19.22]taking applications in until this case is settled." [01:23.66]A final decision on the case will take time. [01:26.91]Paul Collins serves as Director of Legal Studies [01:32.43]at the University of Massachusetts. [01:35.18]"And the law really is not black or white on this one. [01:38.10]If it went to the Supreme Court [01:39.54]and they ruled on the merits of this case, [01:41.36]it probably wouldn't come down for half a year to years." [01:44.20]Until then, undocumented immigrants are unsure of their future. [01:49.35]The U.S. Congress has been unable to agree on a plan [01:54.05]to reform the immigration system. [01:56.88]Texas Congressman Lamar Smith is a member of the Republican Party. [02:03.13]He says lack of congressional action [02:06.91]is no reason for the executive order. [02:10.20]"The president said, [02:11.30]¡®I am going to give them work permits. [02:12.70]I'm going to allow them to stay, [02:14.44]I am going to allow them to get federal benefits.' [02:16.29]That is where he went beyond what I think he can do." [02:19.13]Some people have protested the judge's ruling. [02:22.89]But state officials who brought the case [02:26.25]say they are defending constitutional order. [02:29.73]Mark Brnovich is Arizona's Attorney General. [02:35.08]"This is an important constitutional principle. [02:37.97]This isn't even just about immigration. [02:40.27]It is about if the president of the U.S. [02:42.62]can act unilaterally on any legal issue." [02:44.87]President Obama disagrees. [02:47.51]"I think the law is on our side, [02:50.40]and history is on our side. [02:52.09]And we are going to appeal it. [02:55.04]And we will be prepared to implement this (order) fully [02:59.36]as soon as the legal issues get resolved." [03:02.55]Until this week, [03:04.14]history would seem to support Mr. Obama's position. [03:07.99]Legal expert Paul Collins says [03:11.53]states have had trouble winning cases on immigration issues. [03:16.36]"The federal courts have been fairly deferential [03:19.41]to the federal government's policies on immigration, [03:22.99]particularly when those challenges are being brought by states. [03:27.28]So the states have a tough row to hoe (difficulty)." [03:30.29]Idalis Cervantes lives in Arizona. [03:33.60]Until Monday, she thought her Mexican-born parents [03:37.84]would be protected from expulsion. [03:40.07]She says she and her parents were heartbroken [03:43.56]when they heard about the judge's decision. [03:46.30]Ms. Cervantes says she is not backing off. [03:50.44]"I will fight, [03:51.78]and I know I have the whole community backing me up [03:54.68]that will make sure my parents stay in this country." [03:57.57]And that's In The News from VOA Learning English. [04:02.80]I'm Mario Ritter. [04:04.84]¸ü¶àÌýÁ¦Çë·ÃÎÊ51voa.com