Washington—Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) today released the following statement on the Supreme Court’s 4-4 order in United States v. Texas:

“The Supreme Court’s 4-4 action in United States v. Texas is an incredible disappointment for me and for so many families in California.

“The president’s executive actions to temporarily suspend the removal of some undocumented immigrants would have allowed law-abiding families to remain together. As a result of the court’s inability to resolve this case, 1.5 million families in California continue to live under the fear of deportation. Few cases have such an immediate, heartbreaking effect on so many families.

“I strongly believe the president’s executive actions—including those issued in 2012 to grant temporary status to undocumented immigrants brought to this country as young children—are constitutional. The president is well within his executive authority to grant deportation relief to certain groups of immigrants, as was done under Presidents Reagan, Bush and Clinton.

“This decision makes clear the severe consequences of a deadlocked Supreme Court. The refusal of Senate Republicans to fulfill their constitutional advise-and-consent rule is unprecedented. With only eight justices, the Supreme Court will continue to tie on important cases, leaving legal questions unanswered and perpetuating uncertainty in federal law.”