Will the DACA program soon be coming to an end?
Many undocumented migrants came to the United States as young children and now live and work here with few ties to the nation of their birth. It’s not their fault that they ended up in the United States illegally. Unfortunately, one program in place to protect these people from deportation may soon be coming to an end.
What is DACA?
Over 600,000 people are protected from deportation through the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. DACA was instituted to protect those who were brought to the United States as children but who do not have the legal status to live and work in the country legally. Referred to as “Dreamers,” these people will not be deported as long as they are not threatening public safety.
Will courts end the DACA program?
However, the DACA program could be coming to an end. While the U.S. Supreme Court upheld DACA 2020, it did so only because it believed the previous administration did not end the program the right way.
Now, some observers say it is likely that a Fifth Circuit judicial panel will deem DACA illegal, thus ending the program in a way that the U.S. Supreme Court would approve of on grounds that DACA wrongfully allows undocumented migrants to legally work in the country.
The current administration states it would appeal such a ruling.
The end of DACA could hurt migrants
It remains to be seen what will happen to DACA in the coming weeks.
The end of DACA would be extremely detrimental to Dreamers who could lose their jobs overnight or even face deportation. Many Dreamers came to the United States as young children and have no real ties to their nation of birth. Deporting Dreamers could cause them significant hardships.
However, it is possible to appeal a deportation ruling or seek an adjustment of status. These are two ways an undocumented migrant could possibly remain in the United States in DACA is deemed to be unlawful.