President Barack Obama and the U.S. Department of Justice encountered a setback in lifting the temporary injunction on his immigration executive actions, and Latino congressional lawmakers are disappointed with the "huge blow" delivered to the Latino community.

U.S. Rep. Linda Sanchez, D-Calif., chairperson of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC), said the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals' 2-1 decision to keep the Deferred Action for Parental Accountability (DAPA) and expanded Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) programs inactive was disappointing, but it will not signal defeat for Latinos.

"[Tuesday's] denial of the emergency stay is a huge blow to our community," Sanchez said in a statement. "The [CHC] stands in solidarity with the millions of affected families -- the young children, mothers and fathers who qualify for these executive action programs but cannot take advantage of them.

Sanchez added, "The fear of deportation is a real and devastating burden that many of our Latino families live with, and one that should not continue to consume the lives of undocumented immigrants indefinitely. These families pose no risk to our national security. They pay taxes, and for many, our country is the only home they have ever known."

The CHC chairperson said the caucus will "do everything in it power" to have the new deferred action programs implemented. Sanchez said the Obama administration has to appeal the Fifth Circuit Court's decision and that the "ultimate ruling" will be in the CHC's favor.

"The need to address our nation's broken immigration system is too great to delay," continued Sanchez.

"It is disappointing but not unexpected given the make-up of the Fifth Circuit and the panel hearing this preliminary case," said Rep. Luis Gutierrez, D-Ill., noting he remains confident "millions" of immigrants will eventually apply for DACA and DAPA.

Gutierrez, co-chair for the CHC's Immigration Task Force, also took a shot at the Republican Party and how the immigration reform inaction will affect the GOP's bid for the White House in 2016.

"The longer the court process takes, the harder it is to imagine a Republican candidate remains competitive in a bid for the White House, because increasingly, this will be the defining and decisive 2016 campaign issue," added Gutierrez.

Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard, D-Calif., also expressed her disappointment with the court's decision. Roybal-Allard acknowledged the expanded DACA program and the new DAPA program would allow millions of immigrants to continue living and working in the U.S., who pose no threat to the country's national security, and without fear of deportation.

"At the same time, we should focus America's immigration enforcement resources on the removal of serious criminals and national security threats," stated Roybal-Allard. "Absent the passage of comprehensive immigration reform, our communities will continue to suffer from many of the devastating effects of deportation and family separation. The President's executive actions are a significant step in the right direction."

"I am optimistic that the Administration's appeal will ultimately succeed, and that this lawsuit will be settled in favor of our immigrant families and youth," Roybal-Allard added.

As Latin Post reported, the new DAPA and expanded DACA programs were part of Obama's November 2014 immigration executive actions. The deferred action programs would have allowed approximately 4.9 million undocumented immigrants a temporary, but renewable, three-year stay pending specific criteria.

The expanded DACA program was set for implementation in late February, while DAPA was scheduled for late May. Texas Judge Andrew Hanen issued a temporary injunction in February on behalf of a coalition of U.S. states seeking to block Obama's deferred actions programs. Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and its Attorney General Ken Paxton have led the coalition that includes 25 other states.

"President Obama abdicated his responsibility to preserve and protect the United States Constitution when he issued this executive action, and after months of obfuscation and stall tactics by his administration, victory for the Constitution has been awarded and the Rule of Law restored," said Abbott in a statement following the court's ruling on Tuesday.

He continued, "We live in a nation governed by a system of checks and balances, and the president's attempt to bypass the will of the American people was successfully checked again today. I am pleased with the Court of Appeals for preserving the injunction against President Obama's unlawful action and for recognizing the fundamental principles upon which our nation was founded."

The DOJ's next step is to further review the case and request the New Orleans-based appeals court to reconsider.

The other 25 states with Texas in the lawsuit are Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, West Virginia and Wisconsin.

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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.

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