WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama blames Senate Republicans’ refusal to consider Merrick Garland’s nomination to the Supreme Court for the deadlock that has blocked his immigration plan.

Obama had sought to use his executive authority to shield from deportation millions of immigrants living illegally in the country. The court’s 4-4 tie effectively kills his plan for the duration of his presidency.

In remarks delivered from the White House after the ruling was issued, Obama predicted that the U.S. immigration system will eventually be overhauled.

Obama says the country deserves an immigration policy that reflects the goodness of the American people, and he hopes that will be an outcome of the voting in November for control of the White House and Congress.

Obama also used the deadlocked Supreme Court opinion to hammer Republicans for refusing to confirm Merrick Garland, his nominee to the Supreme Court.

The president said his immigration actions can’t go forward until the court has a ninth justice to break the tie.

Obama also alluded to presidential candidate Donald Trump’s call for building a border wall with Mexico. Obama said the U.S. doesn’t need to wall itself off and that immigration isn’t something to fear.