More than 649,000 immigrants across the country won’t face deportation now that the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled against how President Trump ended the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program (DACA). DACA, a program instituted by President Obama, gave temporary legal status to those brought to the United States as children.
Also known as “Dreamers,” more than a quarter of the U.S.’ DACA immigrants live in California.
The court ruled 5-4 that it didn’t approve of how the Trump Administration tried to end the DACA program. The court didn’t rule as to if DACA is a sound policy.
DACA, Dreamers and the president
Those approved for the program have received a Social Security number and the legal right to work. DACA protections last for two years, with the option to renew.
After campaigning on a hard line against immigration, Trump announced in 2017 that he was phasing out the DACA program. Federal courts in California and elsewhere issued injunctions against ending DACA, leading to the Supreme Court hearing the case last fall. The two questions the Court considered were:
- Do the courts have the power to review Trump’s decision?
- Did Trump follow due process when he terminated DACA?
As part of its review of the case, the Supreme Court took the unusual step of allowing a late brief asking the justices to consider the help that many DACA holders are providing during the COVID-19 pandemic. More than 200,000 Dreamers have been labeled essential workers, such as nurses and medical care aides.
Now is the time to know your rights
After the Supreme Court’s ruling, President Trump vowed to follow the rules the court set forth to truly end the DACA program.
If you or a family member currently participate in the DACA program, you should discuss how this ruling may affect you or your family member with an immigration attorney. An attorney can help you review the best options to avoid deportation.
