Judge Blocks New DACA Applicants, Biden Plans to Appeal

Photo by Jose Luis Gonzalez, Reuters

A judge’s decision blocks new initial Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) applications from being filed with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. DACA renewals can still be filed for existing DACA holders. The Biden administration plans to appeal the ruling.

The ImLaw team is disappointed to learn of this new ruling, in which U.S. District Judge Andrew Hanen said Congress had not granted then-President Barack Obama the authority to adopt DACA. The program grants certain undocumented individuals brought to the U.S. before the age of 16 protection from removal and employment authorization documents (EADs). Currently more than 600,000 young immigrants are part of the DACA program.

Jose Magaña-Salgado, a DACA recipient and Director of Policy and Communications for the Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration, said, “Today’s decision demonstrates, once again, that DACA remains on the knife’s edge and that Congress must act swiftly to provide a permanent roadmap to citizenship for undocumented youth and students.”

Check out relevant coverage below for more information about this developing story. Please contact us at info@imlaw.biz with any questions.

Federal Judge Rules DACA Unlawful, Orders Government to Block New Applicants | U.S. News & World Report

U.S. judge rules DACA program illegal, suspends new applications | Reuters

Biden calls judge’s decision to halt DACA program ‘deeply disappointing,’ says DOJ will appeal ruling | The Washington Post