A federal judge’s move to temporarily block President Barack Obama ’s immigration actions encouraged Republican opponents and left in limbo millions of illegal immigrants facing the threat of deportation.

The Obama administration promised to appeal the injunction in the case brought by Texas and officials of 25 other states, who argued that the president overstepped his authority with a November executive action that would offer work permits and safe harbor from deportation to some four million people in the U.S. who met certain criteria.

DACA in 2012 allowed children under 16 who were brought to the U.S. before 2010 to remain in the country without fear of deportation for two years. In Jan 2015, Obama administration extended DACA status to three years; DACA recipients can also re-apply to retain their status once their three years are up.

Fate of more than 1.1 million children who are eligible for DACA now faces the brunt as 722,000 have already applied and now the status is on hold due the the conflict in the houses which are both controlled by the Republicans.