Late yesterday, 9/7/22, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals issued its decision on DACA, a moment for which immigrant youth, loved ones, and allies have been waiting and holding our collective breath. The ruling was troubling but expected.
The Fifth Circuit largely upheld a lower court ruling finding the 2012 memo that established DACA unlawful. It will allow for DACA renewals to continue temporarily and has sent the case back to the lower court to consider the Biden administration's new DACA regulation, which is set to go into effect on October 31. But the writing is on the legal wall.
This ruling does not change who can currently apply for or renew DACA for now. That being said, it is another stark and serious reminder of the urgency for Congress to act swiftly to deliver a permanent legislative solution. Immigrant youth cannot be expected to continue to live with the constant uncertainty wrought by politicized attacks on DACA, and thus, their lives.
DACA is a successful and commonsense policy that has transformed lives, improved our economy, and strengthened our nation. It is legally and morally right, but it was always meant to be temporary. Immigrant youth need the permanency and stability of a pathway to citizenship. The public widely supports this solution, and it’s past time for Congress to follow through. There is only one path forward now and it depends on Congressional courage and President Biden’s leadership.
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This National Immigration Law Center Action Alert was forwarded to WNPJ by member group WI Faith Voices for Justice of the Dane Sanctuary Coalition: See https://danesanctuarycoalition.org/ or contact rabbibonnie@charter.net