Federal Judge Restores DACA, DHS to Accept Applicants

December 16, 2020

U.S. District Judge Nicholas G. Garaufis in Brooklyn ruled to restore the eight-year-old Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, program to pre-2017 standards. He ordered the Department of Homeland Security post a public notice to accept first-time applications and ensure that work permits are valid for two years, after the acting head of DHS tried to reduce the work permits to one year.

 

President-elect Joe Biden was expected to overturn President Trump’s executive order limiting DACA, but the Dreamers are not necessarily in the clear. Attorney Generals in several states have asked federal judges to declare DACA unlawful and wind down the 2012 program. That ruling is expected later in the month.

 

According to the Washington Post, approximately 640,000 immigrants are enrolled in the DACA program and nearly 65,800 immigrants had their work permits reduced to one year under the Trump Administration.

 

Follow our alerts for updates as President-elect Biden is expected to rollback Trump era immigration policy. As those changes become more clear, our attorneys and staff are ready and available to assist you and your family or business.

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TAGS: DACA, President Biden, President Trump