Federal Appeals Court Declares DACA Unlawful in Texas

The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals has upheld a lower court ruling declaring the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program unlawful, impacting over half a million recipients. While the court found that DACA violates immigration law, it limited the injunction to Texas, where the lawsuit originated, allowing DACA to remain in effect in other states for now. The decision poses significant uncertainty for DACA recipients, particularly regarding work authorization, as the court separated work permits from deportation protections. The ruling prevents the Biden administration from accepting new DACA applications while an appeal to the Supreme Court is anticipated. The future of the program is further complicated by the impending inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump, whose administration's stance on DACA remains unclear. This ruling continues the legal saga surrounding DACA, initiated under President Obama in 2012.