Despite the legal setback in President Barack Obama's immigration executive actions, immigrant rights advocates have remained confident that millions of undocumented immigrants will soon apply for deferred action.

As Latin Post reported, the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals denied the Obama administration's request to lift the temporary injunction placed on Obama's new Deferred Action for Parental Accountability (DAPA) and expanded Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) programs. Texas' federal Judge Andrew Hanen, as a result of Republican governors and attorneys general from 26 states seeking to block the programs, placed the temporary injunction last February.

"We are disappointed by the decision of the Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit denying the DOJ's motion for emergency stay.... As a result, millions of immigrants who are eligible under DAPA or DACA will continue to be denied the opportunity to participate in the American dream," said League of United Latin American Citizens' (LULAC) National Executive Director Brent Wilkes said in a statement.

According to Wilkes, the lawsuit, which has been led by Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and the state's Attorney General Ken Paxton, has been politically motivated and fails to address the broken immigration system.

"We urge these state leaders to stop engaging in wasteful litigation and instead support common sense immigration reform that benefits all Americans. LULAC remains confident that upon hearing all arguments on appeal, the Fifth Circuit will hold the executive orders to be constitutional, and will thus permit the full implementation of DACA and DAPA," said Wilkes.

Fair Immigration Reform Movement (FIRM) spokesperson Kica Matos said the ruling is "an affront for our immigrant families." Matos added that the lawsuit stemmed from the extreme right's anti-immigrant attacks toward immigrants.

"This is a temporary setback, but one that we do not take lightly," said Matos. "Our families are tired of waiting, and they are tired of living in fear. If anything, this ruling has made us even more determined than ever to continue the fight."

"Our movement will continue to fearlessly escalate so our voices are heard during this fight. We will push aggressively and vigorously until we prevail. Our families deserve to work and live in this country they contribute to every day and call home. They deserve to be treated with dignity and respect that this decision does not show," added Matos. "We know the law is on our side, as are the majority of Americans who support the President's actions. This may be a bump on the road, but we will not give up until we prevail."

In the Lone Star State, the Texas Organizing Project (TOP) Political Director Joaquin Guerra called Abbott's lawsuit "baseless" and keeps millions of immigrant families to live in fear of deportation. Guerra also noted the litigation blocks the state from gaining more than $300 million in tax revenue during the next three years.

"We remain confident that President Obama's executive action will be implemented just like the 2012 DACA, which was ruled constitutional by the Fifth Circuit," said Guerra. "Meanwhile, we are continuing to help people get ready to apply for administrative relief. Already we have helped more than 2,000 Texans get informed and ready.

Guerra added, "We've found that instead of being discouraged by Gov. Abbott's lawsuit, Texas' Latino and immigrant families are more ready than ever to fight back and hold him accountable for his deplorable efforts to continue separating families."

With Texas, the other 25 states with 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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