Supreme Court Rules 4-4 on U.S. v. Texas, Leaves Lower Court Ban in Place | Sojourners

Supreme Court Rules 4-4 on U.S. v. Texas, Leaves Lower Court Ban in Place

M DOGAN / Shutterstock
M DOGAN / Shutterstock

The Supreme Court tied 4-4 in the crucial immigration case U.S. v. Texas.

“The judgment is affirmed by an equally divided Court,” the one-sentence opinion reads.

Because the Court lacks a ninth justice, the tie will leave in the place the lower court’s ruling, but will not settle the matter. It could come before the Court in its next session, presumably when a ninth justice has been confirmed to the Court.

The lawsuit concerns President Obama’s executive action that offered protection from deportation for some undocumented immigrants. The executive action created Deferred Action for Parents of Americans (DAPA) as well as expanded the 2012 program Deferred Action for Children of Americans (DACA).

DAPA and expanded DACA were never actually implemented because U.S. District Judge Andrew Hanen placed an injunction on them. Because the Court tied, the injunction will stay in place.

Read more about DAPA and expanded DACA here.