RMIAN Statement on DACA Ruling

RMIAN Stands with Immigrant Youth. A Texas Judge’s Ruling Striking Down DACA is Just the Latest Move in a Political Game That Callously Disregards the Very Real Consequences on the Lives of People Impacted.

Yesterday, a judge for the U.S. District Court of the Southern District of Texas struck down the most recent iteration of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and called to terminate the program. While the Court’s ruling will not change the current status quo – DACA recipients remain eligible to renew their status – it does not allow for any new applicants to qualify for legal protections through the program.

This isn’t the end of the road for this case. The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, which previously upheld Judge Hanen’s ruling about the DACA rulemaking process, will review the lower court’s decision. After that, the case would be on a pathway to the Supreme Court.

RMIAN’s Children’s Program Managing Attorney, Ashley Harrington, shared her frustration: RMIAN strongly disagrees with the Texas court decision and will continue to stand in solidarity with Dreamers. It is imperative that Congress act to provide meaningful, long-term protections for Dreamers and for immigrant youth left out of DACA so they can stop living in fear of the next political decision that could tear their families apart.