The temporary injunction to delay the launch of the expanded Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and the new Deferred Action for Parental Accountability (DAPA) programs has not only impacted eligible undocumented immigrants, but it has also made an impact on women.

Representatives from We Belong Together, a campaign by the National Domestic Workers Alliance, National Asian Pacific American Women's Forum and a coalition of women's and immigrant rights groups aimed to mobilize women to support common-sense immigration policies to keep families together and power women, criticized federal Judge Andrew Hanen's ruling to delay DACA and DAPA.

As Latin Post reported, Hanen, of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas' Brownsville Division, issued a temporary injunction on the federal government from implementing DACA and DAPA, which are two deferred action programs introduced by President Barack Obama that could affect approximately 4.9 million undocumented immigrants temporarily avoid deportation for three years. Hanen's temporary injunction ruling goes in favor of 26 states suing the Obama administration about the deferred action programs. Hanen has allowed for an appeal to be filed to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals or the U.S. Supreme Court.

"The President's executive action was a leap forward for this country and was achieved in large part because immigrant women came out of the shadows and have been fearless advocates for change," said We Belong Together Co-chair Miriam Yeung.

Must Read: U.S. Politicians and Latino, Immigrant Rights Groups React to Immigration Executive Action Delay

She noted more than 75 percent of undocumented immigrants are comprised of women and children, and it is the women who encounter the responsibility of trying to support a family while working despite threats of deportation. With the DACA and DAPA programs, Yeung said millions of women and their families would continue to live without fear and continue to contribute to the U.S.

"Judge Hanen's decision to temporarily block implementation of President Obama's deferred action programs is not a surprise to our communities. This judge is widely known for his anti-immigrant opinions," Yeung added. "Justice for immigrant mothers, children and families does not rest in this judge's hands and we are confident this ruling will quickly be overturned."

Obama and White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest have said the U.S. Department of Justice will file an appeal against Hanen's ruling.

In a statement early Tuesday, Earnest said, "The Supreme Court and Congress have made clear that the federal government can set priorities in enforcing our immigration laws -- which is exactly what the president did when he announced commonsense policies to help fix our broken immigration system. Those policies are consistent with the laws passed by Congress and decisions of the Supreme Court, as well as five decades of precedent by presidents of both parties who have used their authority to set priorities in enforcing our immigration laws."

According to We Belong Together Co-chair Andrea Cristina Mercado, the campaign to assist eligible undocumented immigrants to apply for either deferred action programs will continue despite Hanen's ruling.

"Our communities will continue preparing for implementation of the President's deferred action programs," said Mercado. "Immigrant women courageously fought for the President's actions by engaging in civil disobedience, sharing their stories and marching for justice. Their courage will continue in the face of this setback and our communities will not be deterred by today's politically-motivated and legally unsound ruling."

The expanded DACA program was scheduled to rollout on Feb. 18, while DAPA was projected to start its application process in mid-to-late May. As a result of Hanen's ruling, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security has paused DACA and DAPA's implementation until further notice.

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For the latest updates, follow Latin Post's Michael Oleaga on Twitter: @EditorMikeO or contact via email: m.oleaga@latinpost.com.