In January, the 5th Circuit Court issued a ruling on DACA that would:
- Potentially open the program up for first-time applications in all 50 states
- End work permit access for DACA recipients in Texas, keeping only the deportation protections part of the DACA program.
The 5th Circuit Court’s January mandate is expected to go into effect today. But the Trump admin has not issued official guidance yet. This means that (1) first-time applications should begin to be processed in all 50 states, including Texas, and (2) For now, DACA recipients in Texas continue to have access to their work permits. 3) We are waiting to see how the Trump admin will respond and impact USCIS’s work.
Renew your DACA!
Talk to a lawyer or accredited legal service provider if you need support.
If you are a DACA recipient in Texas:
- If you currently have DACA and live in Texas, you still have access to your work authorization and ability to renew your DACA.
- Depending on what the Trump admin does next, the decision to separate work permits from deportation protections for DACA recipients and DACA-eligible young people in Texas would go back down to Judge Hanen to determine when/how this takes effect.
- Stay informed as things evolve quickly by texting DACA INFO to 787-57 ASAP to remain in the loop.
- If a DACA recipient in Texas is detained, please get in touch with us. All DACA recipients should still be protected from deportation.
For first-time applicants:
- While the mandate should mean that first-time applications are open and being processed, Trump’s USCIS has not issued official guidance, and no new applications have been processed yet.
- Speak to a trusted attorney if you’re considering applying for the first time. Beware of scams—only seek legal help from an accredited representative.
- Be cautious of submitting your personal information to an administration that we know will target immigrants at all costs.
If you are considering applying for DACA for the first time, read this carefully!
- Consult with a trusted immigration attorney or DOJ-accredited representative before applying.
- Uncertainty on government action: The Trump administration has not confirmed if they will follow the court’s ruling. We must wait for USCIS guidance.
- Processing backlog: There are over 90,000 first-time applications pending since 2021, which could delay new applications from being processed quickly.
- Legal risks: This mandate could be appealed, and the legal challenges could continue.
- Threats by Trump Admin: At any moment, Trump could decide to end DACA on his own.
- Risk of exposure: By applying, you provide your personal information to the U.S. government. While this was not used to target immigrants under past administrations, this is not a guarantee under Trump.
Beware of scams! Notarios and other fraudulent services CANNOT legally assist with DACA applications. Only seek help from trusted legal experts.
What happens next:
We have fought to reopen DACA for first-time applicants for years, because we know DACA is legal and right. Today we should be celebrating that hundreds of thousands of young people should be able to have DACA protections for the first time. Yet, we cannot trust Trump’s administration to follow the law and do the right thing.
The fight to protect our communities continues—not only in the courts but in our everyday lives. We must be ready to mobilize in defense of our communities because we are HERE TO STAY!
A lot is changing quickly, but we have each other! We will continue to update you as things change and how we can all fight back against the threat of abductions and kidnappings.
This is also the time to demand Congress pass legislation that creates permanent, clean pathways to citizenship, like the Dream and Promise Act.
Text DACA INFO to 787-57 to stay updated, access resources, and learn how to fight back! Together, we have the power to shape the future.
