NEW YORK, NY – Today a federal judge ruled that the Trump administration must fully restore the DACA program, calling Trump’s decision to rescind it “arbitrary and capricious.” Judge Bates gave the administration 20 days to appeal, but the decision represents a huge victory in the fight for immigrant rights.
Steven Choi, Executive Director of the New York Immigration Coalition, issued the following statement:
"Justice is on the side of the Dreamers and today Judge Bates affirmed that the Trump administration's senseless decision to end DACA was indeed irrational and unjust. We will never give up because when we fight we win.”
Background
Close to a year ago, President Trump rescinded the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), and designated March 5th, 2018 to begin phasing out the program.
Although the administration wanted to go straight to the US Supreme Court to overturn two previous district court judges’ decisions that ruled against terminating DACA, the Supreme Court rejected that attempt on February 26th. As a result, the lower court’s decision remained, maintaining that anyone who has had DACA at any time could either renew or re-apply to the program, while barring new applicants.
Over fifty percent of DACA recipients under the age of 25 are on track to receive a bachelor’s degree, and in total, over ninety percent of DACA recipients are employed. In the next 10 years, the country stands to lose $460.3 billion in GDP if DACA is ended without a legislative solution. In New York alone, there are 115,000 Dream Act-eligible individuals in the workforce who would add a projected $1.75 billion to the state GDP annually over ten years.
In the aftermath of the repeal of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals on September 5th, the New York Immigration Coalition led a 4,000 person rally at Foley Square and has provided free legal services for DACA recipients.