Washington, DC – The 5th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in the DACA case, State of Texas v. United States, ruling that DACA is unlawful, but sending the case back to the lower court instead of killing it outright at this moment. For now, those with DACA retain their status and can renew their status.
According to Vanessa Cárdenas, Deputy Director of America’s Voice:
This is a ghastly decision and a slap in the face to the hundreds of thousands of young people who live, work, and worship among us day in and day out. DACA opened the door for recipients to finally be able to live their lives and fulfill their potential without the fear of deportation and has been an enormous benefit to the United States for more than a decade.
Today’s decision underscores the urgent need for action by Congress to provide a permanent, durable way for eligible people to remain in the U.S. and continue their lives. The uncertainty around DACA hurts people and families across our nation, it hurts our economy and the thousands of employers who rely on valued DACA employees, and undermines our national cohesiveness. The American people have been clear and consistent in supporting a path to citizenship for Dreamers and other deeply rooted members of our society who need legal protection. We need permanent solutions now.
Republicans are at a moment of truth – GOP legal challenges to DACA have undermined the program and compel a legislative solution, yet GOP obstruction in Congress has blocked a long overdue legislative solution time after time. For the members of the Republican Party who pledge to support Dreamers and the communities, classrooms, and workplaces who rely on their contributions, now is the time to deliver. Listen to the strong majority of Americans, including many Republican voters, and find a way to deliver for Dreamers and the nation before the year is out.
According to Mario Carrillo, the spouse of a DACA recipient and the Campaigns Director for America’s Voice:
DACA recipients can’t continue living from court ruling to court ruling. It’s too much not knowing whether you’ll be able to keep building on the life you have because of DACA. It’s never been enough and DACA recipients, among millions more, deserve stability and permanence.