Appeals judges see delay tactics in DACA immigration fight

NEW YORK (AP) — Federal appeals judges say lawyers on both sides in the dispute over a program sparing many young immigrants from deportation seem to be dragging out their legal fight.

The observations came as a three-judge panel of the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals heard arguments Friday.

The government is appealing a Brooklyn judge's finding that President Donald Trump's administration failed to offer legally adequate reasons to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program.

The ruling came in lawsuits brought by immigration rights groups and 16 states and the District of Columbia.

One 2nd Circuit judge asked a U.S. Justice Department lawyer why the government didn't drop its court fight and cancel the program properly.