U.S. Supreme Court blocks plan to end DACA program

Close up of immigration stamp on passport

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled on Thursday to block the Trump administration from ending the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, a program enacted by the Obama administration that shields nearly 700,000 young undocumented immigrants from deportation.

In a 5-4 decision, the justices said the administration failed to give an adequate justification for terminating the DACA program, ruling that the Department of Homeland Security’s decision to rescind DACA was arbitrary and capricious under the Administrative Procedure Act.

The DACA program began in 2012, giving protections from deportation to qualified individuals who were brought to the U.S. illegally as children. Included in the provisions for “Dreamers” was the ability to work legally and apply for college loans if they passed a background check and met certain other requirements.

The Trump administration sought to end DACA shortly after the President took office, arguing that the program was unconstitutional from its inception. But the administration was blocked by the lower courts and appealed to the Supreme Court, where the final decision was handed down on Thursday.

“For years the Chamber has advocated for a permanent resolution to this issue and a path to citizenship for dreamers who play a critical role within our economy,” said Kentucky Chamber President and CEO Ashli Watts. “America was built by Dreamers, and we celebrate this decision today as it brings us closer to that reality.”

Click here for a link to the full Supreme Court decision.

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Jacqueline Pitts
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