Federal Judge Invalidates DACA, ACLU Issues Strong Criticism of Ruling

Federal Judge Invalidates DACA, ACLU Issues Strong Criticism of Ruling

A federal judge in Texas on Friday invalidated an Obama-era initiative that provided deportation protection and work permits to some young immigrants, a ruling that places the program in entire Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program in jeopardy.

U.S. District Judge Andrew Hanen ruled the DACA program was unlawful because Congress never gave the executive branch the power to grant mass reprieves to immigrants who are in the U.S. without authorization.

“As popular as this program might be, the proper origination point for the DACA program was, and is, Congress,” Judge Hanen, a George W. Bush appointee, wrote.

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Omar Jadwat, director of the ACLU’s Immigrants’ Rights Project, had the following reaction. 

“This ruling is wrong and is subject to appeal," said Jadwat. "But Dreamers’ futures shouldn’t be in the hands of the courts. It is absolutely urgent that Congress acts now through the budget reconciliation process to provide Dreamers and other undocumented members of our communities with reliable status and a pathway to citizenship.”

READ THE FULL 77-PAGE RULING HERE