DISTRICT COURT RULING MEANS CONGRESS MUST ACT ON DACA

WASHINGTON — The United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas found the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) unlawful yesterday. Importantly, the Court’s ruling does not impact the nearly 600,000 people who currently have DACA. The United States and other defendants are expected to appeal the ruling to the U.S. Supreme Court, which had remanded the case back to the Southern District of Texas last fall. Reacting to Wednesday’s ruling, the PIF coalition issued the following statement by its director, Adriana Cadena:

“For hundreds of thousands of people, DACA has been about much more than immigration status – it has been a critical first step on the ladder of economic advancement. People with DACA have earned degrees, built careers, started families, and contributed to the nation’s cultural and economic growth. This ruling is bad for immigrant families and the nation as a whole. Congress has neglected its responsibility to immigrant families for too long, and the constant threat to immigration status puts the health and wellbeing of millions in immigrant families in jeopardy. Congress must act to establish a pathway to citizenship that provides the security and stability every family should have.”