Supreme Court rules in DACA case
On Behalf of Coughlon Law Firm, PLLC. | Feb 27, 2018 | US Immigration Law
Immigrants in Arizona and around the country who have sought protection under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program will continue to be protected for now. On Feb. 26, the U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear an appeal by the Trump administration to a Jan. 9 injunction from a California federal district court judge that put a stop to the administration’s efforts to end the DACA program. Around 700,000 people are protected by this program that provides them with work permits for two years and then requires them to reapply.
The DACA program was originally put in place by the Obama administration to help people who were illegally brought into the country as children. The Trump administration’s argument was that because Obama bypassed Congress, he exceeded his constitutional powers.
Following the judge’s injunction, the administration opted to go straight to the Supreme Court rather than a federal appeals court. In its decision, the Supreme Court denied the appeal without prejudice. This means it is not yet clear what its ruling will be on the legal issue that is now in the hands of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit, if in fact it comes before the nation’s highest court again. Immigration activists and other advocates argue that a long-term solution is needed for the so-called “Dreamers” who are covered under the program. They say many young immigrants still need protection and the uncertainty is creating crisis conditions for them.
There is a great deal of controversy around U.S. immigration law, and aspects of it, such as DACA, are currently under legal review. People whose immigration status might be threatened, who are uncertain of their status or who have other immigration concerns might want to consult an attorney who has experience with these types of issues.
Source: Reuters, “Supreme Court rejects Trump over ‘Dreamers’ immigrants“, Lawrence Hurley and Andrew Chung, Feb. 26, 2018
