Texas federal judge Andrew Hanen ruled that the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program is illegal. While those currently in the program are safe, others wishing to apply in the future will now be blocked.
President Biden’s Thoughts on the Matter
When the recent DACA news broke to the White House, President Biden responded by calling the court ruling, “deeply disappointing.”
President Biden went on to say, “While the court’s order does not now affect current DACA recipients, this decision nonetheless relegates hundreds of thousands of young immigrants to an uncertain future. The Department of Justice intends to appeal this decision in order to preserve and fortify DACA. And, as the court recognized, the Department of Homeland Security plans to issue a proposed rule concerning DACA in the near future.”
The President also offered some hope in the form of his Congressional allies. Given that Democrats hold the majority in both Senate and the House, Congress can still interfere with the ruling and try to relinquish the program. What remains unknown is whether the House and Senate are willing to put in the work needed to keep DACA alive.
What About Those Already Accepted by DACA?
When a person’s application is accepted by DACA, they’re permitted to live and work in the U.S. for two years. Once that time is up, DACA beneficiaries are given the chance to renew status and remain in the states. Fortunately, there are still other ways to obtain legal work opportunities in the U.S. For more information about immigrant and non-immigrant visas.
