What is Happening with DACA?

If you are confused as to the state of the DACA program, you are not alone. It feels like there are never ending court decisions and headlines and they are all contradictory. Recently, the Supreme Court held that the Trump Administration’s termination of the DACA program was not lawful. However, the Supreme Court did not rule on the legality of the program. 

On July 16, 2021, a federal judge in Texas ruled that the DACA program is unlawful and ordered U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to stop granting initial DACA applications. The order does not impact renewal applications. That leaves the question, what is the current state of the DACA program? 

As of the date of this article, USCIS is accepting initial and renewal applications. However, USCIS can only grant renewal applications. USCIS will also continue to accept and, in some cases, grant applications for advance parole for people who have been granted DACA. The Biden Administration issued a statement confirming they will appeal the ruling of the District Court in Texas.