Federal Judge Blocks Obama’s Immigration Actions. Here Are 32 Tweets Reacting to the Ruling.

Ben Smith /

A federal judge’s ruling yesterday halted President Obama’s executive actions on immigration, stopping—at least temporarily—the government’s attempt to grant legal status to an estimated 5 million illegal immigrants.

U.S. District Court Judge Andrew S. Hanen’s ruling, in response to a lawsuit from 25 states, comes just days before the Obama administration planned to implement the new rules. The White House vowed to appeal the Texas judge’s decision.

In Washington, Senate Democrats have filibustered a Department of Homeland Security funding bill that includes language halting Obama’s executive actions. The department’s funding expires Feb. 27.

The news sparked varied reactions on Twitter. Here are some of the tweets that caught our attention.

Here's my statement on Texas' victory halting Obama's Executive Amnesty. http://t.co/1tKCpud2nJ #txlege #tcot @TexasGOP

— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) February 17, 2015

a legal injunction against Obama's amnesty is good, but it doesn't mean lawmakers can sit back. House-passed DHS bill still essential.

— dan holler (@danholler) February 17, 2015

The narrative that Republicans haven't funded or won't fund DHS is so completely false and absurd I want to scream

— Katie Pavlich (@KatiePavlich) February 17, 2015

The appeals process could take a year. Why block DHS Bill over funding they can’t use until then? Will reporters ask Democrats this?

— RB (@RBPundit) February 17, 2015

It's Democrats who are threatening to disable our entire DHS, because there is no funding for illegals in the bill. good! #DefundAmnesty

— RockPrincess (@Rockprincess818) February 17, 2015

Height of irresponsibility for Dems to block DHS funding to protect Obama's amnesty—which a judge has ruled illegal! http://t.co/Q5U5UYKLDV

— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) February 17, 2015

Don't expect to see Republicans back down on DHS funding after court ruling against executive amnesty. http://t.co/Xlp5ePm5li

— Ed Morrissey (@EdMorrissey) February 17, 2015

Seems that GOP case on DHS funding is even stronger after the ruling. Why would Dems hold DHS hostage for something court blocked anyways?

— AG (@AG_Conservative) February 17, 2015

Indefensible for Democrats to block DHS funding to keep Obama's amnesty that a court has now blocked in a majority of states. #JustfundDHS

— Amanda Carpenter (@amandacarpenter) February 17, 2015

On DHS Funding, GOP Doesn’t Deserve the Blame (But Will Probably Get It) http://t.co/Ha4Q73GV3K via @sharethis

— John Feehery (@JohnFeehery) February 17, 2015

Hey look, if Congress doesn’t fund Dept of Homeland Security, voters almost TWICE as likely to BLAME REPUBLICANS http://t.co/OUpJX1pF5V

— Sally Kohn (@sallykohn) February 17, 2015

DOJ, legal experts & history support the President's executive actions on immigration. Confident appeal will succeed. http://t.co/115S1gcebs

— Nancy Pelosi (@NancyPelosi) February 17, 2015

The obvious compromise here is to pass a DHS funding bill that allows DACA to continue but stops DAPA from starting http://t.co/5owXAiYwd4

— Conn Carroll (@conncarroll) February 17, 2015

Boehner’s bogus DHS blame game: Boehner faults everyone but himself for the loom http://t.co/tiCmVFwTMA via @sharethis

— nancy bowen (@lavenderblue27) February 17, 2015

Only 46% of Republicans would see DHS shutdown as a crisis. Could only imagine how much higher that # would be with Bush as president

— Sam Stein (@samsteinhp) February 17, 2015

Just FYI..DHS is "shut down" today in the same manner it would shut down at the end of the month. 3 inches of snow #defundamnesty

— Daniel Horowitz (@RMConservative) February 17, 2015

The president overstepped his executive authority & hurt the effort toward a commonsense immigration solution https://t.co/rO49CgtaZS

— Jeb Bush (@JebBush) February 17, 2015

Senate Democrats should stop protecting POTUS's unconstitutional actions & end their filibuster of DHS funding bill http://t.co/E7TWyTjIsG

— Senator John Boozman (@JohnBoozman) February 17, 2015

Republicans Just Got a DHS Shutdown Lifeline. Will They Take It? http://t.co/UX6Nm5O7YT

— Daniel Newhauser (@dnewhauser) February 17, 2015

The Department of Homeland Security is a total disaster. It's time to abolish it. http://t.co/4S1sMKiPgC via @DLind

— Marshall Adame (@Marshall1952) February 17, 2015

.@SenSchumer statement on the immigration court order and DHS funding: pic.twitter.com/4jQHoWvIzt

— Sahil Kapur (@sahilkapur) February 17, 2015

I joined MO Reps urging Sen. McCaskill, who says exec. actions on #immigration were wrong, to debate #DHS bill. pic.twitter.com/Gos8vZyShm

— Rep. Vicky Hartzler (@RepHartzler) February 17, 2015

Texas GOP officials cheer ruling on Obama immigration orders http://t.co/iQsqgH76SJ #KHOU #Texas pic.twitter.com/8eOU0HvqoX

— KHOU 11 News Houston (@KHOU) February 17, 2015

Must stand firm because states + US will “suffer irreparable harm” if @BarackObama is allowed to trample Constitution http://t.co/Gqa5C5WJJf

— Cong. Tim Huelskamp (@CongHuelskamp) February 17, 2015

White House blasts order halting immigration plan http://t.co/0GdUINbtbg via @usatoday

— Catherine Phung (@following10) February 17, 2015

"22 times" – something you'll hear in most GOP responses to the federal judge temporarily halting Obama's exec action http://t.co/1o9Est31is

— Alex Pappas (@AlexPappas) February 17, 2015

A judge just blocked Obama's immigration plans. Here's why you shouldn't take it seriously. http://t.co/vTvahcx9TY pic.twitter.com/MuUpCRnxNS

— Mother Jones (@MotherJones) February 17, 2015

Republicans hold the Department of Homeland Security hostage http://t.co/oL5GpLzrVk

— Joe Trippi (@JoeTrippi) February 17, 2015

Boehner: Judge's Immigration Ruling Should Clear Way for DHS Funding Bill http://t.co/9OWoPn8iOu via @mediaite #DefundIllegalAmnesty #tcot

— Taylor (@BridgerCO) February 17, 2015

Judge blocks Obama's amnesty executive order, said allowing illegal aliens to stay would be irreversible. http://t.co/JkBBAqT0IR

— Crystal Wright (@GOPBlackChick) February 17, 2015

Hopefully, Senate Dems who claim to oppose this #immigration overreach will now let the Senate begin debate on our bill to #FundDHS.

— Speaker John Boehner (@SpeakerBoehner) February 17, 2015

Schumer: Despite court decision, Dems still "united" in view that DHS $$ "should not be used as a ransom by Republicans, period.”

— Seung Min Kim (@seungminkim) February 17, 2015