WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Supreme Court ruled today that the Trump administration did not provide an adequate justification for ending Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), allowing it to remain in place.
The ruling comes after the Trump administration attempted to rescind DACA in 2017, beginning a legal battle that has left nearly 700,000 DACA recipients uncertain of their futures.
While the court ruled that the Trump administration failed to provide a reasoned explanation for ending DACA, the court’s decision permits the administration to make a second attempt to end the protections for Dreamers using proper administrative procedures, underscoring the need for a permanent legislative solution. Without such a solution from Congress, DACA recipients — who are estimated to contribute an estimated $433 billion to the GDP, $60 billion in fiscal impact, and $12.3 billion in taxes to Social Security and Medicare — will continue to live in limbo.
Additionally, with an estimated 29,000 DACA recipients working as front-line medical professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic, a permanent solution is critical to the stability of health care systems responding to the pandemic nationwide.
In the meantime, DACA will continue and current holders can continue to renew their permits, allowing them to work legally and without fear of deportation.
“Today’s decision is a deep sigh of relief for hundreds of thousands of DACA recipients and the millions of Americans who have come to know, respect and love them,” said Ali Noorani, President and CEO of the National Immigration Forum. “But it is temporary. A permanent legislative solution for Dreamers would finally end the instability that DACA recipients — including the thousands working on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic — face every day, while contributing to the only country many of them have ever known.
“Congress needs to act now. A permanent legislative solution is critical not just for DACA recipients, but the countless American employers, workers and communities who depend on them.”
“At a time when our nation is grappling with how to address systemic injustices, we must continue to strive to live up to our ideals. We must act for dignity, fairness and justice for everyone, regardless of race, immigration status or country of origin.”