Local reaction to Supreme Court immigration decision

CENTER CITY (WPVI) -- A tie vote by the Supreme Court is blocking President Barack Obama's immigration plan that sought to shield millions living in the U.S. illegally from deportation.

Reaction to the outcome was swift with those on both sides of the issue painting a different picture of how this should be viewed.

First, Mayor Jim Kenney who has been one of the most ardent supporters of sanctuary cities that refuse to turn over those living over here illegally to immigration agents.

"Everything that comes out of Washington these days has a chilling effect on all of our lives," said Kenney.

Just days after declaring on World Refuge Day that he would make Philadelphia a sanctuary to protect immigrants, Kenney says the Supreme Court deadlocked on immigration sends a chilling effect on his efforts and those of other sanctuary cities.

"I'm devastated, but the people are devastated more," said Kenney. "The people who were brought to this country as children, and didn't have any idea of their documented status."

The president's plan sought to shield millions living in the U.S. illegally from deportation.

Conservative talk show host Dom Giordano says the outcome underscores that the direction of U.S. immigration policy will be determined in large part by this fall's presidential election.

"Meaning that this election now will get down and dirty at the presidential level and here locally - Toomey and McGinty - over sanctuary cities abd all those issues," said Giordano, WPHT-The Big Talker.

Meanwhile, immigration lawyers say their clients, those here illegally who were hoping to come out of the shadows, are devastated by the Supreme Court deadlock.

"People are terrified. I mean you really did start to see more and more calling, try to come out and say like, they were really starting to feel there was gonna be real change and they could really come forward," said Lindsay Hanson, Getson & Schatz. "And now I just really think it's gonna make them lose faith in our leadership."

"I feel for these people, particularly the dreamers, these kids brought here and all that, who doesn't? But the law is the law," said Giordano.

The White House Thursday night said people who would have benefited from the president's plan face no imminent threat of deportation because Congress has provided money to deal with only a small percentage of undocumented immigrants.