TEXAS JUDGE’S DECISION TO CONTINUE DACA IS A POSITIVE DEVELOPMENT,
BUT CHIRLA WILL CONTINUE FIGHT TO KEEP IT FOR GOOD
Judge says he will likely rule DACA illegal, but renewal applications can continue for now
Los Angeles, CA — The Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA), the largest California- based immigrant rights organization, believes U.S. District Judge Andrew Hanen’s decision Friday to allow Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) renewals to continue for now is a positive move, and we will continue fighting attempts to tear down this program that gives so much hope to young immigrants.
Hanen ruled against the state of Texas’s request to put the program on hold while a lawsuit against it by eight states proceeds. In his decision, he said Texas and the other states waited too long — five years — to sue, and so they could not therefore claim immediate damages from the program. He also said that though the states might incur costs from having to grant benefits to DACA recipients, those consequences are not as dire as ending the program altogether.
Even so, Hanen said the program is likely illegal.
“We have no illusions about Judge Hanen and his opinions of DACA. However, this development helps our efforts to keep alive this program that has given so many young people the tools to forge their future. This is a worthwhile fight.” — Angelica Salas, Executive Director, CHIRLA
As Salas pledged CHIRLA’s continued support, she encouraged qualifying young people to keep renewing their DACA benefits.
“The more those who qualify for DACA protection renew their benefits, the harder it will be to kill this program,” she said. “We are encouraged by this unexpected favorable decision and we believe DACA, which has withstood previous legal challenges, will prevail in this one.”
CHIRLA is a California leader with national impact made of diverse immigrant families and individuals who act as agents of social change to achieve a world with freedom of mobility, full human rights, and true participatory democracy. CHIRLA’s mission is to achieve a just society fully inclusive of immigrants.
Contact
Tessie Borden C: 323–559–1895 luckygrrr@gmail.com
