Washington, D.C. – Today, in a vindictive and cruel Republican-led attack against immigrant young people and their families, a federal judge in Texas ruled to “vacate” the Department of Homeland Security’s memo that established the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, putting a partial end to it. Judge Andrew Hanen ruled that no new DACA applications will be granted as of today, but that USCIS can continue to process renewals for current DACA recipients for now.
Greisa Martinez Rosas, Executive Director of United We Dream, said:
“Since Trump first tried to end DACA in 2017, DACA recipients and DACA-eligible youth have lived court case to court case, at the whims of politicians who have been hellbent on detaining and deporting our communities. Judge Hanen’s decision to side with Republicans who have continuously targeted our communities is a continuation of the attacks that defined the Trump administration’s anti-immigrant, white nationalist agenda and put the lives of hundreds of thousands of immigrant young people on the line.
Today’s ruling is evidence that DACA is not enough. The program has always been temporary, leaving hundreds of thousands of lives vulnerable to the next attack. Just this week, Senate Democrats included a pathway to citizenship for millions in their proposed budget resolution, which was a direct result of our movement’s power. Democrats must act now to make citizenship a reality!
The only thing that can protect all immigrant youth, TPS holders, farm workers and other essential workers, is a path to citizenship through reconciliation. Until President Biden and Democrats in Congress deliver on citizenship, the lives of millions of undocumented people remain on the line. Democrats must pass a pathway to citizenship this year, no excuses!”
Andrea Anaya, First-time DACA Applicant and member of United We Dream, said:
“I applied for DACA for the first-time in February but have yet to hear back from USCIS about the status of my application. Today’s ruling means I continue to be exposed to the threat of deportation and don’t know if my DACA application will ever be approved. I shouldn’t have to fight to prove that my life and my existence matter, but Republicans who continue to attack me and my community have made clear that I will never be safe until citizenship is delivered. Judge Hanen’s ruling proves that temporary protections will always leave me and millions of others in a constant state of uncertainty and fear.
President Biden and Democrats in Congress, my life is not up for debate. For years, immigrant youth have warned you of the continued attacks against DACA and our lives. Now, it’s time you follow through on your promises to protect me and my loved ones and deliver citizenship for me and millions more this year.”
