Supreme Court Ruling Blocks Immigration Executive Actions
DAPA and DACA Expansion Halted
Common sense improvements to our nation’s broken immigration system were authorized by President Obama in November of 2014. The Executive Actions were later challenged in Federal Court, leading to a Supreme Court showdown, and today effectively halted, in a 4-4 split decision by the highest court in the land.
The Deferred Action for Parental Accountability Program (DAPA) would have allowed parents of U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents who have been in the U.S. for five years, to remain in the U.S. and work legally if they have no significant criminal history. The Executive Actions also would have authorized an expansion of the existing Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals Program (“DACA”) program. The program would have allowed individuals brought to the U.S. as children who have served in the U.S. military or who were educated here, and who lack a criminal record, to remain in the U.S. and work lawfully. In total, the Executive Actions would have provided an estimated five million undocumented immigrations from deportation and allowed them to legally work in the United States.
Today’s United States v. Texas decision prohibits the implementation of the President’s initiatives.
Holding Does Not Affect Current DACA Eligibility
However, the ruling does not affect current DACA eligibility, allowing those who qualify under guidelines originally established in 2012 to continue applying. Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson states today that the administration is disappointed in the ruling and that he and the President remain committed to fixing our broken immigration system. Secretary Johnson confirmed today that the other facets of the November 2014 Immigration Executive Action policies will continue to move forward, including improvements in high-skilled worker, entrepreneur and international student immigration initiatives. Improvements to Removal Priorities by focusing on violent offenders rather than breaking up families are also to continue, according to Secretary Johnson.
