On the Cusp of Inauguration Day, Nearly 900 Organizations Urge President-Elect Trump to Continue DACA
The Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC) shared a letter with me today, signed by nearly 900 organizations urging President Elect Donald Trump to not end the existing protection for so-called DREAMers under DACA. You can read a full copy of the letter here:
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As a reminder, Consideration of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) is available for individuals who:
- Were under the age of 31 as of June 15, 2012;
- Came to the United States before reaching your 16th birthday;
- Have continuously resided in the United States since June 15, 2007, up to the present time;
- Were physically present in the United States on June 15, 2012, and at the time of making your request for consideration of deferred action with USCIS;
- Had no lawful status on June 15, 2012;
- Are currently in school, have graduated or obtained a certificate of completion from high school, have obtained a general education development (GED) certificate, or are an honorably discharged veteran of the Coast Guard or Armed Forces of the United States; and
- Have not been convicted of a felony, significant misdemeanor,or three or more other misdemeanors, and do not otherwise pose a threat to national security or public safety.
Nearly 750,000 people have been approved for the program, which grants them employment authorization, so they don’t have to work in the “shadow economy.” It also guarantees they will not be deported for a period of 2 years, which can be renewed. Importantly, it does not provide any lawful status.
Two other programs that the President Obama put in place: DAPA, which provided protection to the undocumented parents of United States Citizens and Lawful Permanent Residents, and; an expanded version of DACA, were halted by a preliminary injunction issued by the Fifth Circuit. The case went to the Supreme Court to be decided, but since the Republican Congress, in a historically unprecedented move, refused to hold confirmation hearings for Merrick Garland, there is no 9th Supreme Court justice. Of course, the court then split 4-4, leaving the injunction in place. Merrick Garland has since returned to his job as the Chief Justice of the D.C. circuit, as of today.