UK Edition
Supreme Court deals Barack Obama blow with split decision on immigration
The Supreme Court struck a major blow to President Barack Obama on Thursday, splitting 4-4 over whether his immigration policies were constitutional and thereby allowing them to remain blocked.
A lower court had already ruled that Mr Obama's executive actions, which would shield millions from deportation, were impermissible.
That set the stage for a showdown at the Supreme Court, which is short one judge after Republicans refused to hold a hearing for Merrick Garland, Mr Obama's nominee to replace Antonin Scalia, the arch-conservative justice who died in February.
The court split along ideological lines, with the four liberal justices ruling in favour of the measures and the four conservatives ruling against.
The result was a victory for opponents of the immigration measures, which many Republicans decried as an example of Mr Obama trying to bypass Congress and rule by decree.
The measures in question would provide deportation relief to undocumented immigrants who arrived as children, and the parents of American citizens who are themselves undocumented.
Individuals who qualified could also have received work permits.
Hillary Clinton, who has pledged more ambitious steps on immigration than those attempted by Mr Obama, called the decision "unacceptable" in a statement.
"These are our friends and family members, neighbours and classmates, dreamers and parents of Americans and lawful permanent residents," she said. "They enrich our communities and contribute to our economy every day. We should be doing everything possible under the law to provide them relief from the spectre of deportation."
Immigration is sure to be one of the primary battle lines in the general election contest between Mrs Clinton and Donald Trump, who will be encouraged by the ruling.
Paul Ryan, the Speaker of the House, said the Constitution was "vindicated" by the ruling.
"The Supreme Court's ruling makes the president's executive actions on immigration null and void," he said in a statement.
Because the court did not offer a ruling on the merits of the case, it is highly possible that the measures could once again come before the court on appeal at a later date.
But for the time being the most significant steps taken on immigration by Mr Obama, who promised sweeping reforms in both of his election contests, are stalled.