The status of roughly 4,000 immigrants in Colorado may be in limbo, now that a federal judge in Texas has temporarily halted President Barack Obama’s recent executive action creating extra protections from deportation.
Twenty-five states filed suit to stop the president’s executive actions -- Colorado was not one of them. The immigrants here would have qualified for the deferred deportation, and Josh Deere, an immigration attorney in Colorado Springs, says his clients are confused and upset.
" 'Why can it be taken away at any time?' " Deere said his clients want to know. " 'You told me that we were going to have this option and now it’s off the table.' "
AP is reporting that Denver Mayor Michael Hancock is predicting a quick reversal of the Teaxas judge's ruling. Hancock joined staff of several immigrant advocacy groups, clergy and immigrants at a news conference Tuesday urging immigrants to get their paperwork in order and prepare to apply for two programs Obama announced in November.
