washington u.s. supreme court tuesday pave way major rule limit presidential power agree decide legality president barack obama unilateral action shield million illegal immigrants deportation court agree hear obama bid resurrect plan undertake 2014 executive action bypass republican-led congress block last year low court texas 25 republican-governed state sue stop rule due end june case first time obama ask supreme court rescue major initiative court 2012 2015 reject conservative challenge signature healthcare law white house express confidence court would deem lawful obama immigration action craft let millions illegal immigrants whose children american citizens lawful permanent residents get program protect deportation supply work permit texas state contend obama exceed presidential power usurp authority congress texas attorney general ken paxton republican say court long recognize limit presidential authority court affirm president obama say 20 occasion unilaterally rewrite congressional laws circumvent people representatives paxton say nine justices review november rule new orleans-based 5th u.s. circuit court appeal uphold february 2015 decision u.s. district judge andrew hanen brownsville city along texas border mexico halt obama action major legislative initiatives suffocate republican lawmakers democratic president resort executive action get around congress issue include immigration gun control obamacare law recent executive action come month act unilaterally expand background check certain gun purchase executive action antagonize republicans accuse unlawfully take action executive fiat congress perform case raise several legal issue include whether state legal stand sue u.s. government decisions enforce federal laws high court add separate question whether president action violate provision u.s. constitution require president take care laws faithfully execute obama administration call president action mere guidance immigration officials exercise discretion give congress enforce immigration laws obama action consistent action take presidents party laws pass congress decisions supreme court white house spokeswoman brandi hoffine say eligible obama program direct illegal immigrants criminal record would able work legally receive federal benefit state require provide benefit order expand 2012 program provide similar relief people become illegal immigrants children case could repercussions beyond immigration would set precedent circumstances state sue federal government range executive action future presidents republican democratic could face new constraints state win case one important supreme court decide current term along challenge restrictive texas abortion law court side obama would term end january 2017 implement immigration plan u.s. presidential election loom november would next president decide whether keep place obama action come bipartisan immigration policy overhaul bill pass senate die house representatives immigration issue drive wedge hispanics increasingly important vote bloc republicans many offer tough word illegal immigrants estimate 11 million illegal immigrants hispanics come mexico latin american countries rule due months presidential election two lead democratic presidential hopefuls hillary clinton bernie sanders say tuesday court uphold obama action republican candidates ted cruz marco rubio say president would undo obama immigration move senate democratic leader harry reid say obama executive action rely well-established constitutional authority say recently meet illegal immigrant parent u.s citizens lawful permanent residents say law-abiding men women continue live constant fear separate children families must allow step shadow fully contribute country love call home u.s. supreme court decide major case obama immigration plan