Washington, D.C. — Following a historic victory earlier this month when a federal judge ordered the federal government to immediately reinstate the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, the Republican crusade against immigrants with DACA continues. Today, a federal judge in Texas will hear a case challenging the legality of DACA in Texas v U.S., a lawsuit led by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and officials from eight other states aiming to attack DACA once again, even after the U.S. Supreme Court’s June ruling that struck down the Trump administration’s first illegal attempt to end the program. DACA recipients, represented by MALDEF (Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund) have intervened to defend the 2012 initiative and will be in court today seeking dismissal of the lawsuit.
As a result of recent court rulings, DACA has opened the door to protect an additional 300,000 DACA-eligible youth, including 55,500 young people who have turned 15 since the Trump administration wrongfully rescinded the program in 2017. Despite the continued attacks against the DACA program, the Home Is Here Coalition is committed to fighting for permanent protections and freedom for all immigrant families and communities.
The Home Is Here Coalition — representing 100+ organizations across the country — released the following statement:
“At a time when more than 300,000 people have died in the U.S. from COVID-19, it is senseless and cruel that these Republican Attorneys General suing to end DACA are only concerned with inflicting more pain and trauma against our communities. Over 200,000 DACA recipients have been working front-line jobs in health care, education, and food industries to keep us safe, fed, and healthy throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. All this while living with uncertainty as DACA continues to be attacked.
Today’s Texas v U.S. hearing is part of yet another callous attempt by cruel politicians who remain hell-bent on deporting and separating our communities and a reminder that DACA has, and always will be, temporary. Our communities deserve more. We know that DACA is right and has protected hundreds of thousands of immigrant young people from deportation. But DACA is also not enough. Today’s hearing is further indication that DACA and our communities remain vulnerable to attacks like these. We need Congress to act on permanent solutions that protect all immigrants, including the millions who have been excluded from DACA since it was enacted.”
