The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans, Louisiana, denied the Obama administration’s request to lift a hold on the president’s executive actions on immigration, which would have granted protection from deportation to five million undocumented immigrants.

The court denied the petition to lift the hold established in February by a federal judge in Texas, Andrew Hanen, following a lawsuit by a coalition of 26 states. 
The Obama administration now has the option of requesting a hearing with all of the appeals court's judges, or taking the matter to the Supreme Court.

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.