June 23, 2016, 11:31 am
Clinton blasts 'unacceptable' Supreme Court deadlock



Hillary Clinton on Thursday bashed the Supreme Court's stalemate over President Obama's immigration actions, which blocks the programs from continuing, as "unacceptable."

The presumptive Democratic presidential nominee also promised in a statement issued by her campaign in both English and Spanish to defend Obama's programs if she wins the White House.

"Today’s deadlocked decision from the Supreme Court is unacceptable, and show[s] us all just how high the stakes are in this election," she said.

"President Obama acted well within his constitutional and legal authority in issuing the DAPA and DACA executive actions. These are our friends and family members; neighbors and classmates; DREAMers and parents of Americans and lawful permanent residents. 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 specter of deportation."

Clinton went on to say that the 4-4 deadlock is "purely procedural," adding that the tie only affirms the lower court's decision and allows the case to be brought up again once a ninth justice is confirmed.

Clinton and Democrats have been calling on Republicans to hold a vote for President Obama's nominee to the court, but Republicans are blocking that nomination in the hopes that Donald Trump wins the White House.

Her statement added that "our families and our country need and deserve a full bench, and Senate Republicans need to stop playing political games with our democracy and give Judge Merrick Garland a fair hearing and vote."

She also used the decision to bash Trump's immigration policy, warning of the "harm Donald Trump would do" by repealing Obama's actions and deporting all 11 million undocumented immigrants.

Obama wanted to expand policies that allow deportation relief and work permit grants for certain undocumented immigrants. A group of states sued to block those programs, however, arguing that the president had overstepped his authority.

http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/...court-deadlock