The DOJ urged this week a federal appeals court to reverse the hold a federal judge placed on President Obama's immigration action. 

The appeal was filed March 31 at the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans, prior to a hearing which will take place April 17.

The document argues that the federal government has the exclusive authority to enforce immigration laws and utilize its resources in deportation processes, and its discretion including to deferred cases that don’t pose a security threat.

The president’s actions are intended to offer a relief to approximately 5 million undocumented immigrants. The first one would expand the deferred action program for undocumented youth (DACA) implemented in 2012 by allowing an additional number of "dreamers" to apply for a protection from deportation and a work permit. The second one, known as DAPA, would allow parents of American citizens or residents to apply for the same protections.

However the president’s actions were blocked last month by a Federal Judge in Texas following a lawsuit by a coalition of 26 states.