The Department of Homeland Security will comply with a temporary injunction issued by a federal judge in Texas that halts the implementation of President Obama's executive actions that would shield more than 4 million undocumented immigrants from deportation.
Federal judge Andrew Hanen from the Southern District of Texas issued the injunction on Monday. DHS originally planned to begin accepting deportation deferment requests Wednesday, Feb. 18, but has suspended those plans.
"I strongly disagree with Judge Hanen's decision to temporarily enjoin implementation of Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents (DAPA) and expanded Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)," DHS Secretary Jeh Johnson said in a statement. "The Department of Justice will appeal that temporary injunction; in the meantime, we recognize we must comply with it."
"Accordingly, the Department of Homeland Security will not begin accepting requests for the expansion of DACA tomorrow, Feb. 18, as originally planned. Until further notice, we will also suspend the plan to accept requests for DAPA."