DACA decision creates continued uncertainty for thousands of immigrants

Earlier this week a federal appeals court upheld a lower court ruling that found the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program is unlawful, and sent the case back to the lower court to decide if a new rule that would fortify the program is legal.

Simply put, this decision is incredibly disappointing.

The DACA program was created in 2012 to stop deportations and grant work permits for certain immigrants who were brought to the United States as children. They became known as Dreamers, and these young people have grown up as Americans and have contributed to our communities in countless ways, yet have no way to gain legal residency.

There are approximately 600,000 immigrants currently enrolled in the program, and this decision provides continued uncertainty for those individuals and families. Thankfully, the court decision left DACA intact for those currently enrolled, but the fact remains that these individuals should not have to question their status in our country from one court ruling to the next.

In light of this most recent decision, and considering the court cases that are likely to follow, it is clear that Congress must act to provide permanent protections for DACA recipients that include a pathway to citizenship. Dreamers are Americans, and as such deserve the same rights and protections as everyone else.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. It has not been verified for its accuracy or completeness.