DACA Faces Setback After Negative Ruling From Texas Federal Judge
The Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program received another major setback on July 16, 2021 with a negative ruling issued by District Court Judge Hanen in Texas v. U.S. Currently, those with DACA status can continue to work and renew their permits. However, the ruling does prohibit the United States Customs & Immigration Services (USCIS) from processing any initial DACA applications.
DACA, is an immigration policy that began in 2012 and provided a 2-year deferment from deportation actions and as well as eligibility for a work permit for immigrant youth. DACA has enabled approximately 800,000 young adults to work lawfully, attend school, and plan their lives without the constant threat of deportation.
The Biden Administration issued a statement saying, “The Department of Justice intends to appeal this decision in order to preserve and fortify DACA.” The statement also included a call to action for Congress members.
“What we need is for Congress to pass a permanent legislative solution that opens a pathway to citizenship for the millions of undocumented immigrants that call the U.S. home, not just DACA recipients,” stated Shalini Thomas, NMILC’s Supervising DOJ Accredited Representative.
Check out our DACA webpage to stay updated with important DACA information and resources. Unfortunately, due to continued restructuring of our DACA pro se workshop, we are extending the pause on our services until October 2021. This means that we will be pausing our citizenship, green card renewal, and DACA services. Please check back to our website or contact us in October for updates.
For immediate assistance, you can also contact our DACA service providing partners, Catholic Charities and Santa Fe Dreamers Project.
Written by Flaviano Graciano, NMILC Communications Manager