Obama: Court ruling won't end immigration debate

WASHINGTON — President Obama all but conceded defeat on immigration Thursday following a Supreme Court decision that kept his executive actions on hold, saying it's unlikely he'll be able to accomplish his goal of giving millions of immigrants semi-legal status by the end of his presidency.

Obama called the Supreme Court's deadlock a setback that "takes us further from the country we aspire to be." But he also predicted that an overhaul the immigration system would come eventually.

"Congress isn't able to ignore America forever," he said.

Obama spoke following the Supreme Court's 4-4 deadlock in a closely watched case that considered whether the president has the power to delay deportations of millions of immigrants who don't have the legal authority to be in the United States.

Deadlocked Supreme Court blocks Obama on immigration

Immigrant groups crushed over Supreme Court ruling, focus on next moves

The unusual Supreme Court tie vote — caused by the vacancy created by Senate Republicans' refusal to confirm a replacement for the late Justice Antonin Scalia — means that a lower court ruling stands. That decision held that states have standing to sue the federal government over the executive actions, and put important parts of Obama's immigration plan on hold.

The Obama administration has deployed more border agents to the southern border, and Obama said he's cut illegal border crossings to their lowest levels since 1970s. But he lamented that success on that front did not break the logjam in Congress over an immigration reform package.

"It is heartbreaking for millions of immigrants who made their lives here, who raised families here," Obama said.

Obama promised that little would change for most immigrants, saying his administration would continue to consider long-term unauthorized immigrants a low priority for deportation. "What is unaffected by today's ruling, or lack of a ruling, are the enforcement priorities we put in place," he said. "As long as you have not committed a crime, our limited law enforcement resources are not focused on you."

But the decision means that immigrant families will not be eligible for get work authorizations and government benefits. Obama said he's not considering any more executive actions on the issue before the end of his presidency.

Hillary Clinton slams 'heartbreaking' immigration ruling

Obama also used the occasion to once again call on the Republican-controlled Senate to confirm his nominee for a vacancy to the Supreme Court, which would provide for a more definitive — and likely Obama-friendly — decision.

"The court's inability to reach a decision in this case is a very clear reminder of why it's so important for the Supreme Court to have a full bench."

Obama did praise a separate decision upholding affirmative action in college admissions. "We are not a country that guarantees equal outcomes, but we do strive to provide an equal shot to everyone, and that;s what the Supreme Court upheld today," Obama said.