By Andrew Chung
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday declined to reinstate President Joe Biden's policy shifting the focus of America's immigration enforcement toward public safety threats, handing a victory to Texas and Louisiana as they challenge a plan they call unlawful.
The justices on a 5-4 vote denied the Biden administration's request to block a federal judge's ruling that had prevented immigration officials from carrying out the enforcement guidelines while litigation over the legality of the policy continues. But the court said in a brief order that it would fast-track the Biden administration appeal and hear oral arguments in December.
Biden's policy departed from the hard-line approach taken by the Democratic president's Republican predecessor, Donald Trump, who sought to broaden the range of immigrants subject to arrest and removal. Biden took office last year promising a more humane approach to immigration.
In announcing the new guidelines last September, Biden's administration noted that U.S. officials have long relied on setting enforcement priorities due to the estimated 11 million immigrants living in the country illegally.
The policy would give agents more discretion to consider individual circumstances and prioritizes threats to national security or public safety.
Republicans have criticized Biden's administration, saying fewer detentions and deportations have encouraged more illegal border crossings.
Texas and Louisiana sued in a federal court in Texas over Biden's policy, arguing that under federal law officials lack discretion and are obligated to detain immigrants who commit a broad array of crimes or who have been ordered removed.
U.S. District Judge Drew Tipton agreed on June 10, suspending the policy nationwide. Tipton was appointed by Trump.
On July 6, the New Orleans-based 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals refused to block Tipton's ruling pending an appeal.