A deadline is nearing for a coalition of states suing to stop President Barack Obama's executive action on immigration to respond to a request by the U.S. government to lift a temporary hold of the orders.
The states have until Tuesday to submit court documents detailing why U.S. District Judge Andrew Hanen in Texas should not lift a preliminary injunction.
Hanen issued the injunction on Feb. 16 that halted Obama's order, which could spare from deportation as many as 5 million people who are in the U.S. illegally. Texas leads the 26-state coalition that sought the injunction, arguing that Obama's executive action was unconstitutional.
The U.S. government has asked Hanen to stay his injunction while it appeals to the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans.
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