washington u.s. supreme court endorse key immigration initiative president barack obama protect million illegal immigrants deportation administration could face surge applicants little time process leave office january 2017. obama announce action november 2014 never go effect put hold federal judge texas february 2015. plan design help illegal immigrant parent children u.s. citizens lawful permanent residents would protect deportation give work authorization supreme court tuesday say would decide whether obama act lawfully create program executive order bypass gridlocked congress obama win court rule end june administration would seven months implement program obama victory could short-lived next president set elect november would final say whether keep program place democrats include presidential front-runner hillary clinton embrace obama plan republican presidential candidates include businessman donald trump texas senator ted cruz assail cruz say tuesday elect would rescind obama order first day presidency early immigration program give similar relief children illegal immigrants grow unite state show policies take time implement launch june 2012 take two months put place almost 408,000 applications first six months program accord government number january 2013 154,000 applications approve 700,000 people since benefit program government able nothing prepare obama executive action hold injunction halt plan u.s. district judge andrew hanen specifically say administration bar implement aspects phase program department homeland security spokeswoman say federal government comply injunction immigration advocate say prepare new effort educate potential applicants program forecast much high number apply early 2012 program largely many eligible way administration process project volume people would eligible say gregory chen director advocacy american immigration lawyers association new program likely present additional bureaucratic problems legal experts say part due large pool eligible people also specific nature applicants program require proof continue residency unite state young people easy prove usually cite school record immigration experts say old people often speak english hard provide necessary documentation women work could find especially difficult go little bite tricky applicants say adonia simpson manage attorney esperanza center immigrant resource center run catholic charities baltimore case approval delay government ask additional evidence add criticism obama action republican candidates could also deter people apply simpson say group discussions immigrants make clear executive action could change say obama face immigration hurdle even win high court