Federal Court Strikes Obama's Immigration Order

A federal appeals court has ruled against President Barack Obama's attempt to shield millions of people living in the U.S. illegally from deportation.

The 2-1 decision by the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upholds a previous ruling by a Texas-based federal court, blocking the initiative.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott praised the decision, saying, "President Obama should abandon his lawless executive amnesty program and start enforcing the law today."

Republicans criticized the plan as an illegal executive overreach when the Obama administration announced it last November, and 26 states have challenged the move in court.

The ruling further dims prospects of implementation of the executive action before Obama leaves office in 2017.

Appeals over the injunction could take months and, depending on how the case unfolds, it could go back to the Texas federal court for more proceedings.