On June 18, the U.S. Supreme Court reversed the Trump administration’s attempt to end Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). While we celebrate that decision, it’s not enough. The decision still leaves open the possibility for the Trump administration to end DACA in the future. To really protect DACA recipients, we need Congress to act.

The House of Representatives already passed the Dream & Promise Act, which would protect DACA recipients and TPS holders by giving them a way to become permanent residents and access a pathway to citizenship.

• Dreamers are immigrant young people brought to the U.S. as children. Many are now young adults. They are kept from fully participating in U.S. society due to their undocumented status and are at risk of deportation.
• Temporary Protected Status (TPS) holders are migrants who have lived legally in the U.S. for decades due to armed conflict, environmental disaster, or other situations in their countries of origin that prevent safe return. They have built lives, families, businesses, and futures here and yet, their ability to remain in the U.S. is threatened with expiration.

An overwhelming majority of people in the United States—both Democrats and Republicans—support Dreamers. If the Senate voted, it would probably pass, but Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is blocking it. He will not allow the Senate to discuss, debate, or vote on the Dream and Promise Act.

Call your Senator now to demand action on the Dream and Promise Act!

June 18, 2020—The U.S. Supreme Court today reversed the Trump administration’s rescission of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. The program protects more than 650,000 young immigrants who were brought to this country as children and meet other requirements.

Chief Justice John Roberts authored the 5-4 decision stating that the Trump administration failed to follow proper procedure for ending the program originally established in 2012 by President Barack Obama. This gives the administration the opportunity to try to shut it down again by offering a more detailed explanation for its action.

“We are overjoyed,” said Veena Iyer, executive director of Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota (ILCM). “Ending DACA would have been devastating. DACA recipients grew up in the United States. Their home is here. They have deep roots here in Minnesota and in communities across the country. Uprooting their lives would hurt not only them, but millions of their loved ones, neighbors, employers, and community members. 91% of DACA recipients are currently employed, they contribute $42 billion annually to the GDP, and they pay $5.7 billion in federal taxes each year. While we celebrate, we also recognize that our journey is not over. The U.S. Senate must pass the Dream and Promise Act, which offers a permanent legislative solution protecting current DACA recipients and other Dreamers.”

DACA was created on June 15, 2012, by then-President Barack Obama. The program deferred deportation proceedings for two years for undocumented young people who paid a $495 application fee and provided proof in their application that they:

• were under age 31 in 2012;
• had continuously resided in the United States since 2007;
• were current students, or had completed high school, or were honorably discharged veterans;
• had not been convicted of any serious crimes; and
• did not threaten national security or public safety.

Approval for DACA status also provided renewable work authorization, with payment of an additional renewal fee of $495 and application every two years.

On September 5, 2017, Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced that the administration was rescinding DACA, effective on March 5, 2018. The Attorney General’s announcement said that no renewals would be allowed after October 5, 2017, but federal courts reversed that order and allowed people who have DACA or who have had DACA in the past to apply for renewal.

Downloadable PDF of press release here.