On Monday night, U.S. Federal Judge Andrew Hanen of Texas blocked the implementation of President Obama’s controversial executive action on immigration.
Following the announcement, on Tuesday, the “big three” (ABC, CBS, and NBC) morning shows all covered the setback for the Obama administration but only CBS This Morning provided a detailed account of the arguments against the administration's immigration action.
On CBS, co-anchor Norah O'Donnell introduced the network's coverage by actually acknowledging " the next steps for the president and his opponents." She then turned to reporter Jan Crawford who highlighted how the court’s ruling was “in response to a lawsuit that was filed in Texas by 26 states. They’re saying the program would cost them millions and that the president has no authority to impose them.”
After detailing the different provisions in President Obama’s executive action, CBS was the only network to actually quote Texas Republican Governor Greg Abbott expressing his satisfaction with the injunction:
Now Texas Republican Governor Greg Abbott has lead the opposition. He said in a statement the judge’s “decision rightly stops the President’s overreach in its tracks.”
In contrast, on ABC’s Good Morning America, Jonathan Karl, ABC News Chief White House Correspondent, offered no quotes from those who support the injunction and instead read a lengthy statement from White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest before touting how the White House is likely to win the immigration battle:
This judge’s order stops that in its tracks but the White House wasted no time in saying it would appeal.In a statement issued at 3 a.m. George, White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said “The Department of Justice, legal scholars, immigration experts, and the district court in Washington D.C. have determined the President’s actions are well within his legal authority.
--
The district court’s decision wrongly prevents these lawful, commonsense policy from taking effect and the Department of Justice has indicated that it will appeal that decision.” So George I have to say also that White House officials are confident they will win this appeal and they may be right on that.
On NBC’s Today, news reader Natalie Morales failed to explain the arguments made by those who oppose President Obama’s immigration executive action during her two news briefs. Instead, the NBC reporter highlighted how the judge's ruling would halt the plan that could "spare" 5 millions of illegal immigrants from being deported:
A federal judge in Texas has temporarily blocked President Obama's executive action on immigration. During the night, the judge issued an injunction putting on hold the president's order that could spare as many as five million people who are in the U.S. illegally from being deported.
The move gives 26 states time to pursue a lawsuit in hopes of permanently blocking the president’s action. The White House this morning is saying the ruling wrongly prevents the president’s lawful common sense policies from taking effect and says the Justice Department will appeal.
See relevant transcripts below.
NBC’s Today
February 17, 2015
SAVANNAH GUTHRIE: Turn to Natalie now. A major move tied to the immigration debate to tell us about.
NATALIE MORALES: That’s right and good morning everyone. A federal judge in Texas has temporarily blocked President Obama's executive action on immigration. During the night, the judge issued an injunction putting on hold the president's order that could spare as many as five million people who are in the U.S. illegally from being deported. The move gives 26 states time to pursue a lawsuit in hopes of permanently blocking the president’s action. The White House this morning is saying the ruling wrongly prevents the president’s lawful common sense policies from taking effect and says the Justice Department will appeal.
--
NATALIE MORALES: A federal judge in Texas has blocked President Obama's executive actions on immigration. The ruling halts a plan that would protect millions of undocumented immigrants from deportation. The judge's decision gives 26 states additional time to pursue a lawsuit to permanently stop the orders. The Department of Justice plans to appeal the decision.
ABC’s Good Morning America
February 17, 2015
GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: That breaking setback for President Obama’s immigration policy. Late last night a federal judge in Texas halted the executive actions offering protections and work permits to 5 million undocumented immigrants. ABC’s Jon Karl is at the White House where the president’s team responded overnight. Good morning Jon.
JONATHAN KARL: Good morning from a snowy White House George. The president’s executive actions, which would give legal status to some 5 million undocumented immigrants, were to begin to go into effect tomorrow. This judge’s order stops that in its tracks but the White House wasted no time in saying it would appeal.
In a statement issued at 3 a.m. George, White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said “The Department of Justice, legal scholars, immigration experts, and the district court in Washington D.C. have determined the President’s actions are well within his legal authority..The district court’s decision wrongly prevents these lawful, commonsense policy from taking effect and the Department of Justice has indicated that it will appeal that decision.” So George I have to say also that White House officials are confident they will win this appeal and they may be right on that.
STEPHANOPOULOS: At the same time Jon, the president’s actions facing opposition in Congress as well, and the opposition to his executive actions on immigration jeopardized the entire budget for Homeland Security.
KARL: And that may be the more serious fight here. Republicans are saying they do not want to fund the Department of Homeland Security unless this executive order on immigration is undone. This is a major showdown. Republicans themselves are divided on this and they come back from recess next week and only have five days to resolve this before the department’s funding runs out.
STEPHANOPOULOS: Alright, the money runs out at the end of the month. Okay, Jon Karl thanks very much.
CBS This Morning
February 17, 2015
NORAH O’DONNELL: The future of nearly 5 million illegal immigrants in the United States is uncertain this morning. A federal judge is challenging President Obama’s executive action. Jan Crawford is in Washington with the next steps for the president and his opponents. Jan good morning.
JAN CRAWFORD: Well, good morning. So this order came down late last night. It temporarily would block the Obama administration from implementing these new immigration programs. It’s in response to a lawsuit that was filed in Texas by 26 states. They’re saying the program would cost them millions and that the president has no authority to impose them. Now, the president’s plan would allow longer-term immigrants, whose children were born here to ask for deferred deportation.
It also would protect people who were brought into this country illegally as children. That part of the program would’ve started taking applications on Wednesday. Now Texas Republican Governor Greg Abbott has lead the opposition. He said in a statement the judge’s “decision rightly stops the President’s overreach in its tracks.” The White House this morning, of course, saying that the executive actions are within the president’s authority and the Justice Department is indicating it will appeal. Gayle?
GAYLE KING: Thank you Jan.
