Hancock Optimistic Judge's Block Of Immigration Order Only Equates To A Delay
DENVER (CBS4) - Colorado supporters of President Barack Obama's executive order on immigration reform say they are disappointed but not surprised that a judge has blocked the order.
Obama is promising to appeal Monday's decision by a federal judge in south Texas, which gives a coalition of 26 states time to pursue a lawsuit to permanently block the orders.
Colorado has not taken any stance in the case, and the city of Denver has signed briefs in favor of the orders.
The judge did not rule on the merits of the case.
The executive order could keep 5 million people who are in the United States illegally from being deported. The first part of the order affecting children in the country illegally was supposed to start on Wednesday.
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Denver Mayor Michael Hancock is one of dozens of mayors from large U.S. cities backing Obama. He gathered with supporters of the order on Tuesday at the Denver Public Library in what was originally planned to be a celebration of what would have been this week's implementation of the first part of the plan.
"Today I stand with 30 other mayors across this nation, and of course the Obama Adminstration -- undeterred by the decision that was made yesterday -- to stand with the people in this room and the millions of people who live in the shadows every day who simply want to contribute to the greatness of this nation," Hancock said.
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Hancock and others who gathered at the library said they remain optimistic that this is only a delay in the plan. Several said that they'd like to send a message to those who have been waiting for this opportunity: get your paperwork ready now.
