Federal Appeals Court Reviews DACA Program Challenges

A panel of judges from the conservative Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals is deliberating the future of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which protects over half a million undocumented immigrants brought to the U.S. as children. During the hearing, Judge Stephen A. Higginson noted the impact of the Supreme Court's recent ruling that limited states' ability to challenge federal immigration policy, suggesting that Texas's lawsuit against DACA may lack merit. Greisa Martinez Rosas, executive director of United We Dream, urged the court to reject the lawsuit and called for urgent action from President Biden to safeguard immigrant rights. The Justice Department, alongside New Jersey and advocacy groups, is defending DACA, arguing that Texas does not have standing to claim harm from the program. Previous rulings by U.S. District Judge Andrew Hanen had temporarily blocked new DACA applications while allowing renewals for current enrollees, but the appeals court's final decision is expected to be contested in the Supreme Court regardless. The outcome could significantly impact the lives of current DACA recipients and their families.