Newsdeck

Newsdeck

Second US judge blocks Trump order to end ‘Dreamer’ program

A second US judge on Tuesday blocked an order by President Donald Trump to end a program protecting from deportation migrants who had been brought illegally to the country as children.

The decision comes after a federal judge in San Francisco in January ruled against repealing the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, program. 

In September, Trump said he was scrapping the DACA program but delayed enforcement to give Congress six months — until March — to craft a lasting solution for the program recipients, informally known as “Dreamers.”

Some 690,000 Dreamers registered under the DACA program, and 1.1 million others were eligible but did not sign up. 

The two court rulings allow for DACA to temporarily remain in force, allowing program recipients to submit renewal applications.

On Friday, the Supreme Court will consider whether to take on the issue. If the high court accepts the case, a decision is unlikely until late spring.

US District Judge Nicholas Garaufis in New York ruled that Trump’s decision to end the Obama-era program was based in part on the “plainly incorrect factual premise” that it was illegal.

New York state attorney general Eric Schneiderman, who leads a coalition of 17 attorneys general who sued to protect DACA and Dreamers, hailed Garaufis’s decision as a “victory.”

“Today’s ruling reflects… the illegality of the Trump administration’s move to rescind DACA… (a) critical program that benefits states across the country,” Schneiderman added. 

US lawmakers are currently sparring over the hot-button issue.

Last month, Trump introduced a proposal that would put all 1.8 million young immigrants in question on a pathway to citizenship, in exchange for stiff cutbacks on overall immigration and funding for a massive wall on the US border with Mexico. DM

Gallery

Please peer review 3 community comments before your comment can be posted

We would like our readers to start paying for Daily Maverick...

…but we are not going to force you to. Over 10 million users come to us each month for the news. We have not put it behind a paywall because the truth should not be a luxury.

Instead we ask our readers who can afford to contribute, even a small amount each month, to do so.

If you appreciate it and want to see us keep going then please consider contributing whatever you can.

Support Daily Maverick→
Payment options

Daily Maverick Elections Toolbox

Feeling powerless in politics?

Equip yourself with the tools you need for an informed decision this election. Get the Elections Toolbox with shareable party manifesto guide.