United States v. Texas

United States v. Texas concerned President Obama's 2014 executive actions on immigration, specifically the Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents program and an expansion of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals. Texas and 25 other states sued, arguing the programs exceeded presidential authority and violated the Administrative Procedure Act by bypassing notice-and-comment rulemaking. The Fifth Circuit upheld a nationwide preliminary injunction. On June 23, 2016, the Supreme Court issued a one-sentence per curiam opinion affirming the lower court by an equally divided 4-4 vote. The deadlock left the injunction in place, preventing the programs from taking effect during Obama's presidency.

The Supreme Court affirmed the Fifth Circuit by an equally divided 4-4 vote in a per curiam decision, leaving the preliminary injunction in place and preventing implementation of DAPA and expanded DACA.

Whether the states had standing to challenge the executive immigration actions; whether DAPA and expanded DACA violated the Administrative Procedure Act by failing to undergo notice-and-comment rulemaking; and whether the President exceeded constitutional authority by implementing deportation relief without congressional approval.

The ruling blocked deportation relief for millions of undocumented immigrant families and highlighted the consequences of the Supreme Court vacancy following Justice Scalia's death. It intensified national debate over immigration policy and executive authority, influenced the 2016 presidential election, and left the legal status of deferred action programs unresolved until later administrative changes.