Appeals Court rebuffs Obama on immigration stay timing

Politico reports:

A federal appeals court has turned aside the Obama Administration's proposal to accelerate its request for a stay of a lower judge's order blocking President Barack Obama's plan to give quasi-legal status and work permits to millions more illegal immigrants.

The Justice Department asked the New Orleans-based 5th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals Thursday to shorten the time for states challenging Obama's immigration moves. Federal government lawyers asked that the states, led by Texas, have only seven days to respond. The states asked the court to allow the normal 10-day period to answer a stay request.

In an order issued before 8 A.M. Central Time Friday, the 5th Circuit sided with Texas and the other challengers on the timing issue, giving them until March 23 to weigh in.

With U.S. District Court Judge Andrew Hanen's injunction in place for nearly a month now, a few days delay is not likely to have much direct impact. And Hanen's order doesn't affect immigration authorities ability to prioritize deportations. However, the 5th Circuit's move could be an early sign that the appeals court—viewed as the most conservative in the country—isn't favorably inclined to the Obama Administration's view that Hanen's order needs to be overturned quickly.

The struggle against Strongman Obama.