US immigration decree: judge overturns protection program for “Dreamer”

The so-called DACA program prevents the deportation of immigrants who came to the United States as children. A federal judge has now overturned the protection program. It was illegally introduced by the Obama administration.

A federal judge in Texas has ordered the end of a US President Barack Obama’s program that prevented the deportation of some immigrants brought to the United States as children. District Judge Andrew Hanen ruled in favor of Texas and eight other conservatively governed states. They had sued for a halt to the so-called DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) program, which offers around 650,000 people limited protection.

Those who have already registered for the program do not lose their protection. Judge Hanen’s decision, however, prevents the approval of new applications. US President Joe Biden had promised in the election campaign to keep DACA. He has already directed authorities to endeavor to maintain the program. With Hanen’s decision, Biden’s ability to act on the issue is restricted, and the pressure on him and the Democrats controlling Congress grows.

Even proponents of DACA have declared in court that a law passed by Congress is necessary for the long-term protection of those affected from expulsion. Judge Hanen had already stated in the past that Congress would have to take action if the US wanted to protect those affected, known as “Dreamers”.

House of Representatives’ draft law is on hold

The House of Representatives passed a bill in March giving Dreamers a path to naturalization. In the Senate, however, the bill is on hold. The plaintiff had argued that President Obama was not empowered to create a program like DACA in 2012 because Congress had been bypassed. The program is draining their funds for education and health. All of the plaintiff states – besides Texas, Alabama, Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nebraska, South Carolina, and West Virginia – had Republican governors or attorneys general.

In his ruling, Hanen wrote that the states had demonstrated the hardships that the continued operation of DACA had placed on them. In addition, the government has no legitimate interest in continuing “an illegally introduced program”.

While DACA is widely considered a young immigrant program, many have lived in the United States for more than a decade after being illegally brought into the country or after their visa expired. According to figures from the liberal Center for American Progress, around 254,000 children have at least one parent who is under the protection of DACA. Some people are grandparents themselves.