US asks Supreme Court to grant rehearing in challenge to Obama's deferred-deportation program
Supporters of President Obama’s policies on immigration and deportation gathered at the U.S. Supreme Court during oral arguments in April. Rena Schild / Shutterstock.com
The U.S. government is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to rehear a challenge to President Barack Obama’s power to implement a deferred deportation program that had split the court 4-4 in June.
The petition filed on Monday seeks a decision when the court “has a full complement of members,” report the National Law Journal (sub. req.), the Washington Post, SCOTUSblog and the New York Times.
The 4-4 split decision in United States v. Texas left in place a nationwide injunction blocking Obama’s executive action on immigration. Obama had offered deportation deferrals to immigrants who have lived here since at least January 2010, have no serious criminal record, and have children who are U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents.
Both the Washington Post and the New York Times call the petition for rehearing “a long shot.”