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                    Factbox: Supreme Court Hears US v Texas

   by VOA News

   The U.S. Supreme Court is hearing Monday arguments in a landmark case
   -- the [1]United States v Texas -- debating the legality of President
   Barack Obama's executive actions on immigration.

   Who is affected: Roughly 4 million undocumented immigrants who are
   living in the United States.

   What does the court case involve:

   The case focuses on Obama's 2014 program known as [2]Deferred Action
   for Parents of Americans (DAPA). The program defers deportation for
   undocumented immigrants who have been in the U.S. since at least 2010,
   have a child who is a U.S. citizen or is in the country legally, and do
   not have a criminal record.

   Obama said he took executive action because Congress had failed to
   overhaul the immigration system.

   Who is behind the lawsuit: Texas is leading 26 states as well as
   congressional Republicans in challenging Obama's executive actions.
   They argue Obama doesn't have the power to effectively change
   immigration law.

   Possible court outcomes:

   Side with administration: About 4 million people would be allowed to
   live and work in the U.S. temporarily without constant fear of
   deportation.

   Side with the states: The lower court rulings, which have frozen the
   immigration actions, would likely stand through the remaining months of
   Obama's presidency.

   Tie 4-4: A tie is possible after the death of Justice Antonin Scalia in
   February, which left eight members on the court. A tie would leave the
   two immigration programs in limbo.

   Sidestep immigration issue: The high court also could decide that Texas
   and the other states don't have the right to sue in federal court, a
   procedural outcome that would largely sidestep the divisive immigration
   issue.

   Decision expected: The court is expected to decide by late June.

   Arguing the case:

   Administration is represented by its top appellate lawyer, Solicitor
   General Donald Verrilli Jr., who has argued many high-profile cases
   before the court, including the Affordable Care Act, the
   constitutionality of same-sex marriage and the Defense of Marriage Act.

   The states are led by Texas' solicitor general, Scott Keller, who has
   argued before the court regarding Texas' right to reject a proposal for
   license plates featuring a Confederate battle flag as well as in
   defense of Texas' sharp restrictions on abortion clinics.

   Where the 2016 presidential candidates stand:

   Republicans: Candidates Donald Trump, Ted Cruz and John Kasich have
   said they would immediately reverse any actions allowed to take place.

   Democrats: Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders have said they would
   expand upon those efforts.

   Some material for this report came from AP.
     __________________________________________________________________

   [3]http://www.voanews.com/content/supreme-court-us-texas-immigration-ca
   se/3290305.html

References

   1. http://www.scotusblog.com/case-files/cases/united-states-v-texas/
   2. https://www.ice.gov/daca
   3. http://www.voanews.com/content/supreme-court-us-texas-immigration-case/3290305.html