New York, NY—Earlier this week, the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals’ decision regarding the future of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program officially went into effect.
The court’s decision would allow first-time DACA applications to be processed across all 50 states. The federal government has not yet issued formal guidance, so new applications are not yet being processed. Community members in New York eligible for DACA and are considering applying for the first time should consult with a trusted immigration attorney or DOJ- accredited representative before applying.
Murad Awawdeh, President and CEO, New York Immigration Coalition:
“While this ruling is a victory for DACA recipients and potentially life-changing for first-time applicants, much uncertainty remains about how the Trump administration will follow the ruling given its attacks on immigrants continue across the country. We urge current DACA recipients to renew their status as needed. We urge individuals who are considering applying for the first time to exercise caution and speak to a trusted attorney first, as there is still too much unknown about whether the Trump administration will access and abuse people’s personal data in order to target them. DACA has always been a short-term bandaid. This moment must be a wake-up call to Congress to act now to pass a pathway to citizenship for DACA recipients and all undocumented immigrants.”