rejoining the workforce, not needing it. just a distinction you should know about. that is our show. thank you for joining us. >> the law and history is on our side the white house says a job was wrong to block the executive action on immigration. why dreamers are worried they may never get legal status. changing sentences. attorney general eric holder claims success in revisiting how drug felons are punished. revealing numbers. i.s.i.l. attack. the group burns 45 people to

death in western iraq. >> danger on the rails. a train derailment and fire is leading to questions over safety when trains are carrying crude oil. >> good evening, i'm antonio mora this is al jazeera america. tomorrow was supposed to be the day millions of undocumented immigrants could apply for work permits and protection against deportation. a federal halted the process putting actions on hold. heidi zhou-castro is along the border and spoke with disappointed people. >> that's right. this was not the news. that undocumented immigrants hoped to here. state leaders in texas are rejoicing. texas let of 26 states claiming that the president overstepped the boundaries and the states would suffer of the consequences.

a federal judge inside the courtroom agreed issuing a temporary injugez. -- injunction, this was devastating news. 36-year-old doris clutches an american flag in front of a courthouse where a federal junk ruled now is not the time for her to step out of the shadows. >> i waited for the kids to finish breakfast. i read it and started crying. >> this is your life. >> it is. i thought it was - i was going to do something. and i read this and it was heart-breaking. >> she said her mother sent for her to come from the u.s. in mexico. she crossed the rio grande following strangers, holding her 4-year-old sister.

>> did you have any idea doing so that said you would be breaking the law. >> no you do what your parents tell you. >> reporter: now she is married request two children. she's among 2.4 million immigrants that would have qualified for protection and work permits. applications were set to open tomorrow. monday's late-night ruling bars of the federal government carrying out the plans. >> i had may papers i was going to get the application and fill it out. >> the ruling says the obama administration violated the administrative procedures act. a 1946 law governing how the federal government establishes regulations. in a state of the state address, texas governor greg abbott called the action lawless. >> i'm proud to report a federal judge halted the president's

executive action plan. in . >> this is not the first time a lower court judge attempted to block something ultimately that is shape to be lawful. >> immigration activists are telling undocumented immigrants to remain hopeful. >> don't freak out this is temporary. the programme will happen you need to get prepared and get the documents ready. >> i still think ... >> reporter: for now, the country that this woman claimed as her own is divided against her. she'll have to continue waiting. the federal government indicated that it's considering filing an emergency appeal to the fifth circuit.

with that time line it will still be about three weeks. the legal path ahead is a long one that will stretch up to the supreme court. >> thank you. >> the administration is claiming success for one of attorney-general's initiative saying fewer prosecutors are throwing the book at low-level drug offenders. john terrett joins us with more. the idea to reduce the prison rate. >> yes, all politicians need a legacy, and this is a key issue for attorney general eric holder. he said the numbers published are pointing in the right direction. they have dropped by 2014/'15. the attorney-general says now federal prosecutors can focus on serious drug offenders. >> the attorney-general of the

united states, attorney general eric holder. reversing gears in what he considers to be a failed policy. the outgoing attorney-general is making the results of a new report, that he hopes is the cornerstone of the legacy. it's aimed at giving prosecutors a chance to think twice against defenders charged with non-violent crimes. >> i understood fewer of the challenges were to reduce america's overreliance. holder, once he leaves says early data shows the smart on crime programme is having a desired effect. according to the attorney-general prosecutors are pursuing mandatory minimums in first call year 2014 down from 46% in 2013.

we put sensible limits on when it was appropriate to seek sentences. we took steps to improve re-entry prove sis to reduce the chances that recars rated individuals offend. >> holder is known to see this as a civil rights issue, arguing tough sentences for crimes unfairly targets african-americans and other defendants, and bumps up prison costs. smart on crime better reflects d.o.j. policies he says. >> it uses incarceration wisely. to punish and deter, not to define and forget. >> now, the most recent statistic that we have comes from 2013. mind you, this includes all offenders, not just those convicted of drugs crimes. at this time more than 1,575,000 inmates were locked up.

more than 60% of them were from minorities. 36% of them are black. in fact, one in 10 african-american men in their 30s is in prison or gaoled in this country every day. >> the numbers and the costs are just astounding. >> thank you. disturbing new details of i.s.i.l.'s actions in iraq. iraqi police say fighters burnt about 45 people to death in the town of al-baghdadi, in western iraq capturing much of the town. the group launched a major assault on kurdish forces in the north, near erbil, and in the town of sinjar. a kurdish peshmerga commander tells al jazeera his troops have been taking heavy fire but they are holding their ground. none of the fighters has been killed in a new round of attacks. two commanders were killed by snipers on monday. >> the u.s. is a big step closer to training syrian rebels.

the state department says the u.s. and turkey agreed on a plan for turkey to host part of the training programme. the u.s. hopes to begin it by the end of march. the pentagon said it would send nearly 1,000 troops to saudi arabia turkey and qatar as part of the effort. >> the u.s. special envoy to syria says bashar al-assad's forces agreed to stop all bombings of aleppo. these pictures are taken by a drone that flew over the city. it shows damages to mosqueses and buildings, some dating back to the 13th century american defense contractors will be selling drones to foreign countries. some allies could purchase the devices, not everyone is happy. mike viqueira has more. >> it's a controversial move with plenty of criticism.

it will set the bar high on which countries will be allowed to acquire the weapons. the criteria still remains classified, but are speaking in a general sense, there's be denial. the armed drones they'll begin at the starting point where they'll not get if they make a compelling case as to why they need the technology if it must be used. requirements or restrictions that will be attached to this. it must be used in international law as self-defence or part of an international coalition and critics are scoffing at that noting that the united states is not always acted within the confines of international law. it is a big business no question about it. there's that element to it. $6 billion a year. increasing competition, notably

in china and israel. but there are a number of companies in the united states who want to get in the business want to expand the business. perhaps the premiere manufacturer, general atopics. they wanted to transfer an unarmed drone, sell it to jordan and we learnt from the congressman, duncan hunter that they were not permitted to do so by the administration and there'll be critics noting ta drone strikes killed hundreds of civilians during the obama administration which used drone strikes more frequently than its predecessor, and concerns that the weapons systems if deployed overseas could fall into enemy maned much like we have seen happen in iraq in the case of i.s.i.l. >> mike viqueira at the white house, thanks russian president vladimir putin suggested ukranian forces should give up the fight for a

railway hub. government troops battled pro-russian rebels in eastern ukraine. despite a ceasefire it shows no signs of slowing. a stray shell hit a pipeline outside town sending up a wall of flames both ignored a deadline to remove artillery from the front. rebels say they surrounded troops and are in control of the town ashton carter completed the pomp and circumstance of his first day of defense secretary. he's the 25th defence secretary, the fourth to serve under president obama. he vowed to reform the department making it heener and more e -- leaner and more efficient. >> i have a commitment to the future building a force for the future. this involves securing the resources we need and making

sure we make the best use of the taxpayer money. >> he met with president obama and talked about security challenges around the world. a leader in illinois is free from custody, he was released on bail after being charged with sexual assault of an employee at his religious school. several women say he crossed the line with them. as lisa stark tells u the imam and the school are facing a civil lawsuit. >> reporter: this is the man who allegedly sexually abused women and girls over four decades. leaving gaol tuesday after posting $25,000 became. do you think he was worried about being caught or exposed. >> he knew we would not go against him, he was so powerful. >> mohammed abdullah alseem is a scholar of a school attracting students from around the counted rip. the institute of islamic

education is a boarding and day school in illinois for students aged 10 to 18. as criminal charges were fired, so too, was a civil lawsuit against salem and his school alleging sexuality. >> we are here today to ask for justice. >> reporter: the abuse came to light last year after a young female staffer told her relatives, and police that salem repeatedly touched her inappropriately. the young woman met with a social worker, and she gave permission to tell her story. >> he pulled her on his lap. touching her. she said no. he pulled her, forcing her on his lap. >> reporter: the civil and criminal complaint says the bodily fluids of his ended up on

her clothes. his lawyers said: he also said: he is not responding to the civil complaints in which other women claim the cleric abused them as children during private sessions 30 years ago. >> i wasn't close to anyone my family members. it's the feelings that will stick with me for the rest of my life. >> in this private culture it's unthinkable for the victim it come forward. >> emphasis on modesty, which is a value dear to my heart. the emphasis that they put on

that encourtrooms the silence, and makes the issues taboo. >> many are calling the young staffer who was brave enough to report the abuse a hero. >> the folks from iie folder you may never get married. there was a constant barrage of shaming and claiming her. >> reporter: now though the shame and blame shifted to a man considered a spiritual leader. salem surrendered his passport and he's been ordered to have no contact with the victim and no contact with anyone under the age of 18. despite the charges against him, it may be difficult for some to reconcile this man who has been a religious leader for decades, to reconcile that with someone who may be a sexual abuser. the attorney tells him that the

courtroom was packed with salem's supporters. coming up the latest on the oil train crash in west virginia, and safety concerns. scenes like this are likely to be repeated as more oil than ever is crossing the u.s. by rail.

in west virginia authorities are letting the train that derailed and caught fire burn itself out.

this is what is left of the cars that burst into flames last night near charleston. the train was carrying crude oil, it's leaking and feeding the fire. 100 residents were not able to return to their homes, there were no reports of serious injuries. the accident is calling into safety travelling by oil or rail. the need to use trains comes in part from the shale oil boom. >> reporter: studying fireballs from trains filled with crude oil, forcing hundreds out of their homes, dumping crude into the river. >> the train exploded after he got out of his hose. >> reporter: as oil drilling boomed. so has crude on the rails. the numbers of tanker cars have

soared. 46 times more are on the rails than 2008. critics say it can lead to disaster. from north dakota to virgin this in downtown lynch burg. >> never in my life. it was scaring. >> tragically in canada - 47 killed when a run away crude oil train derailed in 2013. the numbers were more last year a million gallons, than in the past four decades combined. >> there's not one citizen in the country told what the railroad decisions are for the routing of dangerous cargoes. >> many blamed it themselves. an accident investigation reveals how fragile they can be. federal rules were proposed last year stronger tank better

brakes and slower speeds for trains. >> i call them pepsi cans on wheels. they are so thin skinned. alarms have been issued for years. >> rail roads have slowed down the trains and bought new cars with stronger thicker tanks. as we saw, they don't necessarily avoid disaster. it has new cars. raising more questions about how to prevent mistakes from turning into disasters. >> is there an acceptable levels. >> new rules are due in may. advocates worry how effective they may be. it's clear that they do not prevent explosives. >> for more on this we turn to the former head of energy transport for the department of transportation, joining us from dallas. pleasure to have you with us. as we saw in jonathan's report

the amount of oil transported soared dramatically. we saw a series of accidents. there was one on seat in canada. what do you see as the main problem we face. >> thank you for having me on the show. as the reporter mentioned we have seen an expansion amount of growth on crude oil. that's due because we are finding oil from different places to where we produced oil and we lack the transportation infrastructure, meaning pipelines to transport it. without pipelines, we are left with rail and, you know you see the volumes sky rocket. >> it's not just a big accident as a result of the volume we are see oil leaking from railroad tankards increasing from 2008 to 86.

your argument is pipelines is better and safer. >> typically pipelines transported the lion's share of crude products. new projects like keystone and others have been blocked for environmental and other reasons. frankly, the industry has had to figure out how to get the oil to market. without the pipe line it is going by rail truck and vessel. >> so we'll see trains and if this train had derailed 30 miles earlier, it would have been in downtown charleston. wirnal's -- west virginia's capital. let's have a look at the map. when you look at it, you see they go through chicago, minnesota, cleveland, philadelphia. you have to worry about what could happen if a derailment

happened. >> absolutely, that's something we have to consider. keep in mind a lot of studies grew up around the railroad and part of the american success story. that being said we transit through the middle of a hot of cities. my agency took a different stance. we have to figure out how to keep trains from derailing, and that is a piece that has not got a lot of thought by the transportation det thus far. >> the train cars were improved versions. that didn't seem to have helped in this case. >> one ert -- other issue is where and when the trains go is secret. and they can be vulnerable to terrorism. how big a threat is that? >> i don't think it's a huge threat. but first responders and local

governments are aware of trains coming through their territories, and they are briefed on what the commodities are. the bottom line is with american energy production comes lower gas prices and benefits. it means we are seeing more and more oil that we have to get to market. until we figure out how to build more pipelines, we'll see more oil by rail. >> good to have your insight on this. thank you after days of snow forecasters are warning about icy cold. for tens of millions in the eastern u.s. we'll have a look. >> an incredible light show. we explain why the pictures are especially rare.

the white house is calling it proof the affordable care act is working. 11 million signed up using healthcare.gov, more than a million in the last couple of days the deadline has been

extended until next week because of technical glitches. part of the county is under a wintry weather advisory a huge storm bringing snow to the south and mid-atlantic. in washington offices closed an 7 inches of snow piled up. there were accidents? virgin the governor declared a state of emergency. meteorologist nicole mitchell has more. >> we had a lot of trouble. you see the one front. freezing rain. it's great news. a little front. it will reinforce the cold air as we get tomorrow around the lakes. it's gold air that will be significant as things dry up. with the cold air in place, all the wet weather will refreeze and this next front is reinforcing cold air, bringing

temperatures down to 20-30 below average. that means like the mid west for example, tonight, where the front brought the colder air, minus 6 in miles per hour. the wind funnelling in drops the wind chills to the dangerous categories. 20-40 below what it will feel like on the skin. the cold air sinks southward, places like memphis into the morning on thursday. starting to get that. friday morning north-east. a lot of country impacted by the very arctic air. back to you. >> thank you. we end tonight with a beautiful light show. you are looking now at the aurora borealis heighting up the skies over the northern edge of sweden. people there say it was the best northern light show in memory. the lights arguably grown. the details are rare. >> i'm antonio mora thank you for joining us.

for the latest news any time. head to aljazeera.com. "inside story" is up next. have a great night. hello, i'm ray suarez wednesday was to be the day people covered by the executive action could start their application for deferred deportation. after the ruling of a federal district court judge in texas, there'll be no action protecting the undocumented from being sent home. at least for now. it's a last minute monkey wrej winning prays and leaving