The U.S. Supreme Court said Monday that it will not rehear a case that affects millions of undocumented immigrants.
In June, a 4-4 tie by the high court in U.S. v. Texas left a lower court ruling blocking the expansion of deferred action for immigrants who came to the United States as children, a policy known as DACA.
The original program, put into place by President Obama in 2012, gives eligible, undocumented immigrants temporary status from deportation -- and allows them to acquire a work permit.
The expanded program would have made more undocumented immigrants, including parents of children who are U.S. citizens, eligible for deferred action. June's ruling does not apply to the original DACA.
Democratic U.S. Rep. Ruben Gallego, who is up for reelection against Republican Eve Nunez in Congressional District 7 this November, tells ABC15 that the court's decision is a "great disappointment."
"We've seen the success of the former program, and many people being to, not just get work permits, but also start businesses, buy homes, really get their life settled," Gallego said.
It remains to be seen what happens to the undocumented immigrants -- more than 4 million were estimated to be eligible -- who sought protection under the expanded deferred action programs.
