Federal Judge Blocks DACA
We had some frustrating immigration news last week, as U.S. District Judge Andrew Hanen from Texas declared the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program illegal. The verdict was handed down in a lawsuit filed by Texas and eight other conservative states with intention to halt the DACA program.
Please note that DACA renewals and advance parole through DACA still continue as this is happening. If you are looking to file for either of the above right now, contact me for more details!
We’ve followed the ups and downs of the program on our blog and in this newsletter. The verdict above should not be surprising considering the part of the country where it was issued, but it does come as a surprise to many Democrats. After all, many assume that a Biden presidency means a more immigration-friendly public policy.
As a response, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi issued a statement on Friday urging Republicans to “join us in respecting the will of the American people and the law, to ensure that Dreamers have a permanent path to citizenship.” There is proposed legislation in Congress that would grant permanent residency to DACA participants — the question now is whether any Republicans will be willing to follow the lead of the Democrats.
Stay tuned to our newsletter and blog for the latest in immigration policy, and if you have any questions or concerns, don’t hesitate to reach out to me!