A federal judge’s decision blocking President Obama’s executive action to shield up to 5 million immigrants from deportation undercuts a White House push to play down concerns about the legitimacy of the directive.

Regardless of whether the temporary injunction late Monday by U.S. District Judge Andrew Hanen stands — the United States Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit in New Orleans will soon decide how to proceed — it did lasting damage to a sales pitch already met with suspicion from illegal immigrants who would qualify for new protections.