President Joe Biden’s recent order halting deportations hit a snag after a federal court sided with the state of Texas and blocked the order over the Administrative Procedure Act, a 73-year-old law that also affected former President Donald Trump’s administration, Fox News reports.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton argued that the current administration’s 100-day moratorium on deportations was "not in accordance with law."
U.S. District Court Judge Drew B. Tipton ruled on Tuesday that "by ordering a 100-day pause on all removals of aliens already subject to a final order of removal, it appears that the January 20 Memorandum is clearly not in accordance with, or is in excess of, the authority accorded to the Attorney General pursuant to 8 U.S.C. § 1231(a)(1)(A)."
The Administrative Procedure Act also tripped up former President Donald Trump’s administration. Specifically, its push to end the 2020 Census a month early and its attempt to remove New Yorkers from the Trusted Travelers program, among other actions.
A spokesperson for the White House told Fox News: "We're confident that as the case proceeds, it will be clear that this measure was wholly appropriate in ordering a temporary pause to allow the agency to carefully review its policies, procedures, and enforcement priorities – while allowing for a greater focus on threats to public safety and national security. President Biden remains committed to taking immediate action to reform our immigration system to ensure it’s upholding American values while keeping our communities safe."
© 2023 Newsmax. All rights reserved.