The Future of DACA: A Decision Looms in the US Court
What Will Their Future Be?
The Future of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) Program
The future of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program may be decided next month in a US court. This decision could potentially affect millions of families currently living in the United States. There are as many as 3.6 million Dreamers residing in the United States, many of whom either did not apply for DACA or aged into the program after it stopped accepting new applicants. Only a minority of the total Dreamer population – approximately 530,000 Dreamers – are currently protected under DACA.
Background
Texas and other Republican-led states are seeking to end DACA, claiming that it is costing taxpayers in their states vast amounts of money to pay for the education and healthcare of DACA arrivals. The program offers temporary protection from deportation and work permits to undocumented immigrants brought to the U.S. as children who are often referred to as “Dreamers”, meaning people who want to live the American Dream. Having grown up from a young age in the US, many have been educated in the US and grown into adults without any knowledge of life in any other country.
The Case Against DACA
The case centers on technical legal issues such as whether DACA exceeds presidential authority, immigration advocates from the coalition “Home is Here” said during a recent conversation with reporters. “Our response to that is that presidential authority in the area of immigration, and particularly the discretion exercised by the executive branch, is very broad and certainly encompasses the type of program that DACA is, which is now a regulation,” Nina Perales, vice president of litigation at the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund, said during the call.
What’s at Stake
A final decision could take a while, said Perales, who noted the 5th Circuit could take “as long as 18 months” to rule. And the case could end in several ways: The 5th Circuit might dismiss the case, send it back to the lower court or rule against DACA, which could then be appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court. “One possible scenario is that the 5th Circuit decides [U.S. District] Judge [Andrew] Hanen didn’t evaluate the evidence properly and sends the case back to [him],” she said.
Conclusion
The fate of the DACA program hangs in the balance, with millions of families waiting anxiously for a decision. The impact of this decision will be far-reaching, affecting not only the lives of those protected under the program but also the future of immigration policy in the United States.
FAQs
Q: What is DACA?
A: DACA is a program that offers temporary protection from deportation and work permits to undocumented immigrants brought to the U.S. as children.
Q: How many people are affected by DACA?
A: There are approximately 3.6 million Dreamers residing in the United States, with only a minority of 530,000 currently protected under DACA.
Q: Why are some states seeking to end DACA?
A: Texas and other Republican-led states are seeking to end DACA, claiming that it is costing taxpayers in their states vast amounts of money to pay for the education and healthcare of DACA arrivals.
Q: What is the significance of the 5th Circuit’s decision?
A: The 5th Circuit’s decision could have far-reaching implications for the future of immigration policy in the United States, with the potential to affect millions of families.