Federal judge issues order temporarily blocking Obama's executive action on immigration



HOUSTON (AP) — A federal judge has granted a request by a coalition of 26 states to temporarily block President Barack Obama's executive action on immigration while its lawsuit to permanently stop the order goes through the courts.

U.S. District Judge Andrew Hanen granted a preliminary injunction Monday, after hearing arguments at a hearing in Brownsville, Texas, in January.

The federal government is expected to appeal Hanen's ruling to the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans. The Justice Department had no immediate comment.

Obama's executive action aims to spare from deportation as many as 5 million people who are in the U.S. illegally.

Hanen's ruling isn't expected to have any immediate effect as the first of Obama's orders is not set to come into action until Feb. 18.